b'MARKET ACCESSTackling Trade DisruptionsCrop value chains are working hard to meet customer needs and keep markets open for Canadian crops.WITH EXPORTS being so crucial to the success of Canadianexports a year. Saudi Arabia currently issues their tenders with agriculture, the current trade disputes really underline thethe notice they can have any origin but Canada, so that market importance of ongoing efforts to resolve and prevent suchcontinues to be closed to us. And Vietnam is essentially closed problems. National associations that bring together cropto Canada because of thistle seeds; Vietnam is part of the TPP growers, processors, exporters and others in the value chain are[Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement] and a market we playing a vital part in these efforts. The associations are usingwere hoping to expand into, says Dahl.a range of strategies to tackle market access issues, focusing onWe depend on trade, and every time a market is restricted or meeting the needs of customers.greater uncertainty comes into a market, that comes with a cost. One of their key strategies is a proactive program that advisesEvery one of these trade issues hurts farmers bottom lines.Canadian crop growers on the latest best practices to ensureCanadas current dispute with China about canola seed is a their farms products will meet end-user needs. Its an importanthigh-profile example of the trade challenges for canola. When tool to help growers do their part in keeping our markets open. it comes to canola, we export 90 per cent of everything we grow. Market access has always been a major priority for this A Quick Look at Trade Issues sector because trade disruption is really damaging, says Brian These days, trade disruptions are affecting a numberInnes, who is the vice-president of public affairs with the Canola of Canadian crops. Tariffs and non-tariff issueslikeCouncil of Canadawhich includes grower associations, biotechnology, sustainability requirements, and phytosanitaryprocessors, exporters and life science companies.specifications related to plant diseases, weed seeds andThe Canola Council has been working on market access pesticide residuesare limiting or preventing market accessissues for many years. Throughout that time, we have seen a for Canadian grains.number of issues that have stopped our exports, he says. There are some significant market access issues for CanadianWe have seen canola meal being disrupted because of cereals at the moment, says Cam Dahl, president of Cerealssalmonella regulations in the United States. Weve seen canola Canada, a national organization that involves all sectors of theseed be disrupted in going to China as far back as 2009, and cereals value chain.our canola meal exports to China were stopped from 2013 to We have serious concerns because of country of origin2015. Weve also seen a number of market access issues related labelling in Italy, which has significantly reduced our durumto technology that have prevented farmers from using the latest exports. Peru has notified the World Trade Organization ofseed genetics or pesticides. And weve seen an inability for phytosanitary concerns with Canadian [wheat] shipmentscanola to be used in the biofuel markets in the United States and because of weed seeds, threatening over one million tonnes ofEurope.Durum exports to Italy are one of several significant market access issues for Canadian cereals.PHOTO: HEPWORTH HOLDINGS LTD.22seed.ab.ca'