To support the competitiveness and sustainability of Canadian cereals, Ottawa on Tuesday announced up to $7.3 million in funding to Cereals Canada.
According to a federal release, Cereals Canada is receiving up to $6.6 million through the AgriMarketing Program to increase market access, improve customer support, and expand exports through initiatives like technical exchanges, market research, and knowledge sharing among stakeholders.
The organization will additionally get $674,249 to support research on how environmental conditions impact cereal crop quality during the growing season. It will also expand milling expertise, establish oat quality standards, and compare Canadian wheat with international competitors to strengthen Canada’s place in the global market.
By sharing key insights on the performance, functionality, and marketability of Canadian cereals with customers, producers, and partners, these projects will drive market growth, the release said. At the same time, by investing in research to help farmers adapt to environmental challenges, they will further build on Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality, sustainable cereal grains, it added.
Cereal crops are a staple of Canada’s agricultural sector. Last year, Canada exported 29.8 million tonnes of wheat, barley and oats, valued at $13.8 billion, and demand continues to grow. In the last five years, Canada exported wheat to almost 100 countries with some of the largest buyers being in the United States, Indonesia, China and Japan.
Cereals Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization representing the cereal grains sector, focused on enhancing the competitiveness of Canadian cereals both domestically and internationally.