Soy Canada disappointed by closure of AAFC’s soy quality program
January 23, 2024, Harrow, ON – A delegation of Soy Canada members met at the Harrow Research and Development Centre of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC), amidst news that the world-famous soy quality program housed at the centre is set to close. The soy quality program has helped create Canada’s reputation for top quality food-grade soybeans and helped farmers have timely access to new varieties. The industry remains committed to maintaining a Canadian soy quality program and calls on the Government of Canada to partner in maintaining a crucial pillar of Canada’s food-grade soy sector.
“Standing in the birthplace of Canada’s soy industry was profoundly moving and also incredibly disappointing as we plan what comes next” says Brian Innes, executive director of Soy Canada. “AAFC has told us that the Harrow soy quality program will close, but we call on the Government of Canada to work with us to maintain a Canadian soy quality program.”
The Harrow soy quality program has supported the Canadian food-grade soybean industry for three decades, partnering with industry for more than 20 years. The program has been instrumental in building the Canadian food grade soy industry into a value-added powerhouse. More than $1.5 billion in food grade soybeans are exported to diverse customers around the world annually, offering farmers a value-added crop and supporting dozens of seed developers and exporters throughout Canada.
Throughout its history, it has created world leading innovation to measure food grade soy quality. This innovation and action have been key tools for soybean exporters and seed developers as they help end users like tofu manufacturers understand processing characteristics of Canadian varieties. For farmers, the Harrow program has brought new food grade varieties to their fields faster, varieties that must provide value to both farmers and end users. As an independent research program with access to tens of thousands of samples of food grade soy varieties from over three decades, the Harrow program’s ability to monitor and strategically contribute to the success of Canadian soybeans has been unparalleled.
Soy Canada and its predecessor have partnered with the Harrow Research and Development Centre to test food grade varieties in the Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba variety trials and report on each variety’s quality characteristics for soy food production. Seed developers and exporters have also used the program to provide an independent assessment of processing characteristics to bring successful varieties to farmers sooner and to assess the quality of specific varieties in a particular growing season.
“The Harrow soy quality program is a gem,” says Innes. “Our value chain recognizes the importance of continuing the tradition of Harrow. We hope our federal government also recognizes the importance of a Canadian soy quality program and continues to be a necessary partner to deliver for our industry and our customers.”
Attendees at the meeting included:
- Jason McNaughton, Chair Soy Canada, Food Products Marketing Manager Hensall District Coop
- Jeff Stonehouse, board member Soy Canada, Soybean Division Manager The Andersons
- Ernie Sirski, past chair and board member Soy Canada, Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers
- Daryl Domitruk, Executive Director Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers
- Brendan Byrne, Chair Grain Farmers of Ontario
- Josh Cowan, Manager of Research and Innovation Grain Farmers of Ontario
- Andrew McVittie, Grain Merchandiser London Agricultural Commodities
- Brian Innes, Executive Director, Soy Canada
Soy Canada is a national value-chain organization for the soybean sector, including seed companies, Canada’s 30,000 growers, exporters, and processors. Created in 2014, Soy Canada leads the sector’s efforts on market access and market development, provides industry leadership on issues affecting the growth and profitability of the soybean sector and coordinates research efforts across the value chain and across the country.
-30-
For more information:
Brian Innes
Executive Director
Soy Canada
613-617-8483
binnes@soycanada.ca
www.soycanada.ca