Laying the groundwork for GM canola in the EU - Increasing demand for canola to fuel EU biodiesel production may move along the process to approve GM canola in the European Union. Canola Council of Canada president Barb Isman and Council vice-president, crop production and biotechnology, JoAnne Buth discussed the status of GM canola events with members of industry and trade associations in the EU this past week.
"This is the first time in many years that the EU's need for product could help us break through the complexity of the GM approval process," explains Isman.
Isman and Buth also attended the conference Biofuels in the EU: A Vision for 2030 and Beyond. They say it provided good insight into the sustainability of the EUs canola-based biodeiesel industry and their commitment to it. “It bodes well for Canada in terms of creating demand for canola oil and meal”, says Isman.
Conservatives show their true trade colours - Agriculture minister Chuck Strahl, in his latest minister's column, underlined his government's stand on WTO negotiations before he and a Canadian contingent head to Geneva for a ministers' meeting at the end of the month.
"Canada is doing everything in its power at the negotiating table to get the best possible deal for Canada and all Canadian farmers. The truth is, we are facing significant pressure, but the Government has strongly supported Canada's supply management system, and we will continue to stand in support of this system. Supply management is Canada's choice; and it continues to be a successful choice for Canada's dairy, poultry and egg producers. It is a system that works for us. We also continue to press for real and significant improvements to market access for our exporters," writes Strahl.
To see the entire column, go to: http://www.agr.gc.ca/cb/min/index_e.php?s1=agmin&s2=col-chro&s3=2006&page=c0606
Canola Learning Centre turns 10 - The Manitoba Canola Growers Association is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Canola Learning Centre this year. Since 1997, more than 10,000 children and youth have visited the CLC at James Richardson International's Kelburn Farm south of Winnipeg.
To celebrate, MCGA has invited the entire population of Marion School in Winnipeg to visit the CLC on June 21. Each class will adopt a crop and learn something about farming, food production and land stewardship. The students will be able to watch their crops grow over the summer at www.mcga.org. In September, the classes will learn how much each crop yielded and will eat a made-in-Manitoba breakfast served up by the MCGA and Agriculture in the Classroom-MB.
Representatives from the Canola Council, JRI and the provincial government will attend the celebration.
The CLC will welcome visitors from manitoba schools and daycares June through this August.
Blame your spare tire on trans fat - You know trans fat is bad for your heart, but did you know it's also bad for your figure? Researchers report that monkeys who were fed a daily dose of trans fatty acids gained 30% more fat around their bellies than those who ate different fats containing exactly the same number of calories.
It has been believed that all fats were equal in terms of obesity because they all contain the same amount of energy, but the study conducted at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina has shown otherwise.
The study's lead investigator presented these findings June 12 at the Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in Washington, D.C. on June 12.
Col. Sanders goes to court - The Center for Science in the Public Interest is suing KFC over its use of partially hydrogenated oil. The class action suit asks that the court prohibit KFC from using partially hydrogenated oil, or at least force the fast food chain to post signs notifying customers that many KFC foods are high in trans fat.
Unlike other restaurant chains such as Ruby Tuesday that have switched to using high oleic canola oil, KFC has kept partially hydrogenated oil in its fryers. Wendy's recently announced a switch to a corn oil/soybean oil blend.
New executive director at SCDC - Laurie Hayes has joined the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission as its new executive director. She took the wheel from the retiring Roy Button this week.
Hayes has a long background in agriculture. She has been manager of the Conservation Learning Centre in Prince Albert, SK for the past eight years, and she has a Masters of Science from the University of Saskatchewan.
"Laurie's diverse background will be very valuable in helping the Commission meet its objectives in the coming years. We look forward to having her in a leadership role," says Jim Caughlin, SCDC chairman.
Canola breeding staff receives university award - The Canola/Rapeseed Cultivar Development Team at the University of Manitoba has been selected to receive the university's first-ever Team Excellence Award. The award celebrates a team or working group that has performed an outstanding service for the benefit of students, university departments or the general public.
The canola technicians receiving this award are Dave Audette, Lynn Coleman, Sandra Fuller, Pat Kenyon, Judith Nugent-Rigby, Paula Parks and Bob Smith. Part of their work involves supporting MCGA research chair Peter McVetty who is working on high and super high erucic acid rapeseed.
Book for Biodiesel at The Westin Calgary by June 21 - Book your room at The Westin Calgary before the special room rate of C$179 expires for the Biodiesel: Powered by Canola conference July 17 - 18. To register for the conference and the hotel online, go to www.canola-council.org/biodiesel/conference.html TODAY! Check out the July 19 seminar BQ-9000 at The Westin at www.bq-9000.org.
Canola Ink is your biweekly update from the Canola Council of Canada. Please copy, reprint or transmit any portion of this report. If you have questions or comments, contact Diane Wreford at (204) 982-2108 or e-mail wrefordd@canola-council.org.
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