Feds form partnerships with China
By Food in Canada staff
Business Operations Regulation Fruit & Vegetables Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada pulses
In April, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced new agricultural partnerships with China.
One involves Canadian pulse producers and an initiative that will increase the value of Canadian pulse exports to China to $500 million from the current value of $100 million.
Canada’s Agriculture minister, Gerry Ritz, made the announcement in China where he and Canadian farm leaders worked together to strengthen export opportunities for Canadian pulses, canola, beef, grain and hogs.
Pulse exports to expand rapidly
Canadian pulse exports to China are projected to expand rapidly based on three factors.
Firstly, China agreed to remove import restrictions on Canadian peas after joint research demonstrated that there is no health risk associated with naturally occurring selenium.
Second, Pulse Canada and the Chinese Cereals and Oils Association signed a memorandum of agreement to increase the nutritional benefits of staple Chinese foods by adding pulse ingredients.
Thirdly, Canada will invest more than $1 million to help Pulse Canada and its partners build Canada’s research and processing capacity to produce pulse flours and pulse-based ingredients that can be used in Chinese products.
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