Demand from Asian markets has government looking to increase soybean production

The federal government has announced $3.7 million for research into oilseed production, with the goal of increasing crops like soybeans in Eastern Canada for export to Asian markets.

Themoney will be going to the Eastern Canada Oilseeds Development Alliance (ECODA) which will be looking into developing new or improved varieties of soybeans, camelina, brown mustard, pulses, canola and hemp in Atlantic Canada.

It will also be researching the type of soil that these crops grow best in.There's going to be 21 research projects over the next five years. On P.E.I., $733,000 of the federal money will be used on 10 projects, including at theAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada research centre in Harrington, about 15 kilometres north of Charlottetown.

Growing demand from Asia

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulaysaid it's an opportunity for Island farmers to expand their business while satisfying the demand of Asian markets.

Soybean sales from Eastern Canada to Asia,including Ontario and Quebec,totalled $2.3 billion last yearwith Japan and Chinasome of the biggest customers.

MacAulaysaid government's goal is to growsales to $75 billion over the next seven years.

"The Chinese minister of agriculture made of a point of telling me he wants more soy," saidMacAulay, who was recently in China for atrade mission.

Island soybean production is growing

Murray MacDonald manages Atlantic Soy, a soybean facility in Belle River, about seven kilometres west of Wood Islands. He said this investment could mean big changes to the way he does business.

"As seasonal varieties comeand if it needs to be shipped to different markets, we may need different equipment to satisfy what we need to do with it," MacDonaldsaid.

The minister said farmers on P.E.I. are producingthree-times more soybeans than 10 years ago.

In 2017, the value of P.E.I.'ssoybean crop was more than $18 million.

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