Manitoba targeted for non-GMO soybean production to fill export opportunity

Though Western Canada has been dominated by genetically modified soybean acres, seed companies are developing high protein varieties to expand Manitoba’s Red River Valley non-GMO soy production.

In contrast to Ontario and Quebec, food grade soybeans are very scarce in Manitoba and Saskatchewan—less than 1 percent of soybean output in Manitoba. Quebec and Ontario growers planted one million non-GMO soy acres in 2017, 25 percent of total soybeans. Non-GMO soymilk and tofu are important export products in Eastern Canada.

“Canada exported 130,000 metric tons of food grade soybeans to China in [2016-17],” the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported, representing a five-fold increase since 2014-15.

North Dakota planted 300,000 non-GMO soybean acres to supply China as well—but the state is losing export opportunities due to the U.S./China trade dispute. Soy Canada hopes to boost its national soy production for export markets, necessitating a 25 percent increase in acres.

The challenge is finding suitable non-GMO varieties for production in Manitoba, said Jason McNaughton, IP soybean marketing manager with Hensall Co-op in Ontario. Non-GMO soybean buyers typically look for varieties containing protein content of 40 percent or higher.

Source: The Western Producer

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