Cargill’s Jennifer Marchand Elected Chair of Canola Council of Canada

Jennifer Marchand, the government and industry relations leader, AVP, Cargill Limited, has been elected the new chair of the board of directors for the Canola Council of Canada (CCC), a March 14 news release says. She succeeds Charlene Bradley who finished her three-year term as chair but remains on the board as a director.

““On behalf of the board, I’d like to thank Charlene Bradley as well as our outgoing board members, Garth Hodges, Dean McQueen and Kevin Serfas, for their leadership and contributions to our industry,” Marchand says in the release. “We also warmly welcome three new directors as we continue to partner across the value chain to address challenges and build canola’s success.”

The new CCC board members for 2022/23 are:

• Ryan McCann, Nutrien, nominated by life science companies
• Justin Nanninga, Alberta Canola, nominated by grower organizations
• Chad Popowich, Viterra, nominated by the Western Grain Elevator Association

The CCC also released its 2021 annual report which reflects on the year’s progress as well as the opportunities to grow in the future, the release says.

“It was a year of many changes and challenges, including the one of the most difficult production years on record,” Jim Everson, president of the CCC, says in the release. “Navigating these times of uncertainty reminds us of the importance of collaboration and continued investment in research and innovation to find solutions and prepare for new opportunities on the horizon.”

The report highlights opportunities in all pillars of the CCC’s strategic plan, including:

• Sustainable, reliable supply – Throughout 2021, the CCC consulted with all parts of the value chain to update the Canola Innovation Strategy – identifying gaps and opportunities to increase productivity per acre, satisfy customer expectations and improve its environmental footprint. These discussions are helping point the way to their research funding priorities in the Next Policy Framework for agriculture and other funding opportunities.
• Stable, open trade – Predictable market access and rules-based trade continues to be a priority across the value chain. Supply chain challenges related to the global pandemic, environmental policies adopted by governments and securing access for canola to biofuels programs figure prominently in the CCC’s strategies to enable market growth.
• Differentiated value – The growing interest in sustainably produced foods and fuels is a great opportunity to promote canola’s environmental benefits and strengthen appreciation around the globe.