World Grain - April 2020 - 44

FEATURE: TRADE DISRUPTIONS NEW REALITY OF GLOBAL TRADE

Canada is falling behind our trading partners, where
there are clearer rules about the pre-market regulatory
environment for these products."
For example, the United States has had closed-loop
production of high oleic soybeans derived through
gene editing for the last three years.
"We aren't seeing opportunities like this in Canada,
in part due to the shadow cast by the uncertainty of our
regulatory environment for novel feed, food and plants
with novel traits," she said. "This has been a focus for

CGC over the past few years, to try to bring greater
clarity and predictability."
The CGC has worked with the government to develop some options for better guidance about when exactly new plant varieties require pre-market approval and
what that looks like. Thomas said she hopes that work
will soon be made available for a wider consultation.
The international landscape is important as well,
so the CGC also is looking at how the global regulatory environment is changing and trying to influ-

Corteva responding to changes in agriculture supply chain
With consumers caring more about
the origin of their food and farmers
facing increasing pressures, Corteva
Agriscience is working to find solutions that benefit both, said Jim Collins, the company's CEO.
"The ag supply chain is being reverse engineered with the consumer
not at the end of that chain but right
up front," Collins said during the
Canadian Crops Convention in Vancouver. "We call it table to farm. It's
all about closing that gap between
what consumers want and what
farmers can deliver in an economically and environmentally sustainable way."
Corteva Agriscience, offering
seed, crop protection and digital
solutions, became an independent
public company on June 1, 2019.
It was previously the Agriculture
Division, formed with the merger
of Dow and DuPont completed in
2017.
Collins noted that farmers are
facing more challenges from multiple angles, including regulatory hurdles, climate change, unpredictable
weather, restrictive trade regimes
and shifting consumer preferences.
"As we built Corteva, all of these
elements help shape the company
that we wanted to become," he
said. "Table to farm puts our purpose into action. If there's a gap between those consumer expectations
and farmers capability, our job is to
deliver a solution that fills that gap

to ensure farmers prosper and consumers get what they want, and we
leave the environment better than
we found it."
The concept is framed around four
key concerns: consumer expectations, mounting economic pressure
on farms, escalating trade tensions
and a growing call to action to address climate change, Collins said.
Consumers want to know more
about the food they are eating,
where was it sourced, who grew it,
under what conditions and what
kinds of inputs were used. Some are
seeking alternatives to animal protein while others attaining middle
class status are interested in eating
more animal protein.
Corteva is exploring how crops,
like canola and wheat, can address
global issues such as health and nutrition, Collins said. It already offers
products such as Plenish high oleic
soybeans with no trans fats and reduced saturated fats.
The company also is working to
enhance protein content in canola
meal, which will help "future proof"
the crop, he said. It also will open
a domestic monogastrich market
currently unavailable to canola and
displace protein that is imported at a
much higher cost.
Consumer expectations impact
what farmers grow and what they
use on their fields. Across the board,
farmers live in a huge world of uncertainty, Collins said.

"One thing we can't do as an industry, we can't add to those pressures," he said.
In meetings, farmers have expressed concerns about consolidation in the agriculture industry.
"We listened and we are offering
more choice to farmers than ever
before," Collins said. "In 2019 in
Canada, we introduced seven new
crop protection products for farmers.
In 2020, we launched three more
uniquely Canadian tools to support
farmers. We are laser focused on
providing farmers choice to address
those consumer expectations."
More work needs to be done on
educating consumers about modern
farming practices. One study showed
that 91% of Canadians know little
to nothing on the topic, but 60% are
interested in learning more.
"What is concerning is this lack
of knowledge is driving regulatory
decisions and limiting farmers ability to operate," Collins said. "We
have a responsibility to help bridge
that knowledge gap."
Trade tensions are also of concern, and Collins said trade policies
should benefit growers and consumers. If that's not happening, the
industry needs to push for better
policies, he said.
"We need to remain vigilant in
examination of fair and just trade,"
Collins said. "The world cannot afford
to have agriculture politicized through
unjust trade restrictions."

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World Grain - April 2020

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