5 BIG Reasons to Support Canadian Canola Farmers

5 BIG Reasons to Support Canadian Canola Farmers

RECENT POSTS

facts about canola farming in canada

Bright yellow canola fields are an iconic summer scene experienced by locals and tourists across Canada, particularly in southwestern Manitoba and the prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. But what not many people know is that the canola plant is so much more than part of the beautiful scenery our farming provinces are well known for – the crop itself was made right here in Canada!

Canola is a Canadian success story to the core as Manitoba and Saskatchewan both played a role in its creation. Today our country is the single largest producer of canola, where approximately 40,000 Canadian farmers produce 20 million tonnes annually.

Below, we look at five very important reasons why all Canadians should support our canola farmers from coast to coast. Also see:

Canadian canola generates more than 44 billion dollars for the national economy every year

#1 - Canola farmers play a significant role in our economy

The canola sector’s contribution to Canadian families and our economy is not to be overlooked. A few facts showing the economic importance of canola in Canada:

  • Over 40,000 Canadian farmers produce 20 million tonnes of canola annually [1]
  • Canola’s value chain consisting of growers, seeders, processors, and exporters generate $43.7 billion in economic activity in Canada every year [1]
  • Canada’s canola industry supports 206,000 Canadian jobs across the country, including 142,000 paid jobs and an additional 65,000 family members who support and are supported by farming operations [2]
  • The canola sector generates $16.3 billion in wages for Canadians each year [2]
  • In Manitoba alone, canola contributes $6.7 billion to the economy annually and supports more than 35,000 jobs [2]

#2 – Canola’s economic impact is growing significantly

The canola industry is rapidly expanding, playing a role in Canada’s economic future with impressive growth over the past decade while maximizing the value of our agricultural resources:

  • Over the past decade, the canola sector’s total economic impact has more than doubled, increasing by $30.5 billion [5]
  • Domestic canola processing and refining have expanded considerably; in 2022/23, this sub sector now generates more than six times the economic impact than it did a decade ago [5]
  • Canola-based biofuel production is an important emerging economic sector in Canada’s economy, rising from $70 million a decade ago to $1.1 billion in 2022/23 [5]

#3 – Canola’s economic impact benefits Canadians across the country

Some Canadians believe that canola’s economic impacts are felt solely in the west. However, central and eastern Canadian provinces also benefit considerably from the sector. For example, by province (sorted by economic impact) [5]:

  • Saskatchewan - $19.8 billion, 91,705 jobs
  • Alberta - $11.9 billion, 66,980 jobs
  • Manitoba - $6.7 billion, 35,067 jobs
  • Ontario - $3 billion, 4,759 jobs
  • Quebec - $1.4 billion, 2,601 jobs
  • British Columbia - $627 million, 2,365 jobs
  • Maritimes - $205 million, 299 jobs

Clearly, all Canadians benefit when our canola sector is strong.

#4 - Canadian canola benefits honeybees

Canola plays an important role in crop pollination by supporting the health of our honeybee populations, while the bees also help canola crops in many ways:

  • While canola fields are self-pollinating, studies show that honeybee pollination can increase crop yields by up to 15% [3]. Meanwhile, the plants provide much-needed pollen and shelter for the insects.
  • Canola fields are habitats for over 2,000 beneficial insects such as honeybees, playing an integral role in the health and well-being of our natural farming land and ecosystems
  • Over several decades, Canadian canola crops and honeybee colonies have shared a measurable linear increase in their numbers [4]

#5 – Canola is inherently Canadian-made

Canola is truly a Canadian success story. An ancient oilseed, canola (also known as “rapeseed”) was cultivated across Asia and Europe as a source of lamp and cooking oil. Eventually, it became a critical lubricant for steam engines on sea-faring ships [6].

The crop was first grown in Canada during World War II as an emergency measure when European and Asian supplies were shut off. Canada responded by quickly increasing its rapeseed production, but by 1950, steam power engines had been converted to diesel and demand for the crop almost vanished [6].

In the 1960s, Canadian researchers identified an opportunity to transform rapeseed, which contained harmful compounds, into an edible oil crop to reduce dependence on imports and save the ailing rapeseed sector [6].

Plant breeders in Saskatchewan and Manitoba created "Canadian oil" (canola) through selective breeding in the 1960s-70s, reducing toxic compounds to make it safe for human and animal consumption. Canola plants produce bright yellow flowers that develop into pods containing tiny round seeds, which are processed into both cooking oil and protein-rich livestock feed [6].

What an incredible story, showing the astonishing innovation Canadians can achieve when we put our minds to it!

Canada is home to 40,000 farmers that produce canola crop

Join Us Today

Canada Action Banner

Supporting Canadian canola farmers means supporting our nation’s long term economic prosperity. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

We invite you to join us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to learn more about how Canadian farmers, miners, foresters and energy workers are an integral part of our communities and country as a whole!

90 percent of Canadian-grown canola is exported to markets abroad

SOURCES:

1 - https://www.canolacouncil.org/about-canola/industry/

2 - https://canolagrowers.com/on-the-farm/what-is-canola/

3 - https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-watch/2013/06/19/bees-and-canola-are-good-for-each-other/

4 - https://agcarbonalliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Sustainability-201909.pdf

5 - https://www.canolacouncil.org/about-canola/economic-impact/

6 - https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/96-325-x/2007000/article/10778-eng.htm