China and Canada flags
 
BEIJING, CHINA – As part of a Canadian trade mission to China, the Canola Council of Canada recently held events to grow and stabilize the Chinese market for canola. The dialogue brought together Chinese and Canadian industry and government officials for a focused discussion on stable, open canola trade.

As part of Canada’s efforts to double bilateral trade with China and grow global agri-food exports to C$75 billion by 2025, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister, Lawrence MacAulay, is leading trade mission across some of China’s most important economic hubs. With a population of 1.4 billion people, and a growing appetite for high-quality Canadian food products, the Chinese market offers significant opportunities for Canadian agriculture producers and processors. 


Jim Everson Canola Council of Canada president
Jim Everson, president of the Canola Council of Canada.
“We welcome Minister MacAulay’s engagement and leadership on this mission,” said Jim Everson, president of the Canola Council of Canada (CCC). “China is an important and valued export market for canola, and stronger trade ties facilitated through Minister MacAulay’s visit and events like the Canola Dialogue will help bring more stability to this growing market.”

The Canola Dialogue was a half-day seminar involving more than 60 participants including representation from the Chinese inspection agency, agriculture ministry, commerce ministry, biotechnology regulators and major importers. During the Dialogue, Minister MacAulay also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Canola Council of Canada and China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products (CFNA).

“This agreement signals the start of a new relationship with Chinese importers based on cooperation to support mutually beneficial trade,” said Everson. “The MOU includes provisions such as communicating on regulations affecting trade and working together to facilitate industry meetings and exchanges.”

canola
China is Canada’s second largest market for canola products.
Photo courtesy of Canola Council of Canada. 
 
In addition to co-hosting the Canola Dialogue, the CCC conducted several events during the mission including hosting a canola meal research seminar and canola oil media event with Minister MacAulay in Guangzhou, China.

The canola meal seminar brought together representatives from Chinese feed mills to learn about research completed on grower/finisher pigs, which demonstrated that canola meal-fed pigs grow as well as soybean meal-fed pigs. Dr. Martin Nyachoti from the University of Manitoba was also there to share his large body of research on feeding canola meal to pigs in all stages of production.

The canola oil event highlighted canola oil’s nutritional and health benefits to influencers, key opinion leaders and the media. This educational event included presentations by Chinese nutritional expert Dr. Nancy Liu on the health benefits of Canadian canola oil, Minister MacAulay on the importance of canola trade between Canada and China, and Chef Ken Liang who demonstrated how the attributes of canola fit wonderfully with Cantonese cuisine, one of the four major families of cuisine in China.

After the U.S., China is the largest export market for canola and canola products. China imported 4.8 million tonnes of Canadian canola in 2016 – including 3.5 million tonnes of seed, 600,000 tonnes of oil and 660,000 tonnes of meal.

AAFC Minister Lawrence MacAulay
Lawrence MacAulay, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister.
“China is a priority market for the Government of Canada, and by strengthening our continued trade relationship we’re helping to create jobs at home and bring prosperity to farmers and Canadian families,” said MacAulay. “This trade mission will open the door to many opportunities between our two countries, which in turn, will help us reach our target to grow Canada’s agri-food exports to C$75 billion by 2025.”

The Canola Council of Canada is a full value chain organization representing canola growers, processors, life science companies and exporters. Keep it Coming 2025 is the strategic plan to ensure the canola industry’s continued growth, demand, stability and success – achieving 52 bushels per acre to meet global market demand of 26 million tonnes by the year 2025.