By vast

Published: October 4, 2018

Category: Non-GMO News, The Organic & Non-GMO Report Newsletter

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

To view full article, visit:

https://www.producer.com/2018/08/non-gm-soybean-market-requires-more-acres/