Canadians called slow to embrace biofuel policy

Canadians farmers have had a hard time embracing biofuel policy the same way that producers south of the border have, says Shaun Haney, founder of RealAgriculture.

He told the MNP Ag Connections Conference in Medicine Hat in November that as Canada continues to struggle to get its agriculture commodities into China, a shift of outlook is needed.

At one time, scientists, agronomists and growers were extremely worried clubroot would spread across the Prairies and devastate Canada’s canola industry.

“Canadian farmers have a hard time totally getting their head around and supporting it because people will often say, ‘I want the government out of stuff, I don’t want industrial policy, I don’t want nation building. We can’t create demand through government policy’,” he said.

“But, that is exactly what the (Renewable Fuel Standard) is in the Untied States.”

The U.S. sees 40 to 45 per cent of its corn crop going into ethanol, from which Canada has benefited. While Canada continues to focus on raw canola seed in China, the largest purchaser of Canadian processed canola meal and oil is the United States. The dairy industry is using the meal, and the oil is being used for renewable diesel.

“It’s one of the reasons why Canada is being very shy and hesitant to lift those EV tariffs (to China) because they don’t want to hurt the Americans,” Haney said.