March 2, 2007
Canola most valuable in 2006 - According to Statistics Canada, canola was the most valuable crop grown in Canada last year. Canola receipts reached $2.5 billion, up 35.3%, the result of record sales and increasing price.
The price of canola was up 4.8%, and marketings were 29.2% higher. Wheat came in second at $2.2 billion, up 16.4% over 2005.
Canola Council applauds B.C. biodiesel boost - The B.C. Energy Plan announced this week will require an average 5% biodiesel blend by 2010 and goes beyond any other policy initiative in North America. This is good news for agriculture and the environment, says Council president Barb Isman.
"We believe a made-in-Canada canola-based biodiesel industry will create new economic opportunities for western Canadian farmers, and provide the highest quality biodiesel for users," she says. "B.C.'s commitment will be a catalyst to building the industry, and help to ensure manufacturing opportunities take root here at home rather than south of the border."
B.C.'s plan will replace approximately 185,000,000 litres of petroleum diesel with cleaner burning renewable fuel, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 400,000 tonnes annually. Meanwhile, the federal government has committed to 2% renewable fuel in diesel by 2012.
Biodiesel production in Canada is expected to grow rapidly over the next five years in order to supply the predicted demand of 700 million litres under the country's renewable fuel mandates.
Canola takes centre stage in renewable energy series - Barb Isman is set to address the Economic Club of Toronto March 7 for its "Renewable Energy" series. Her speech will focus on Canada's own source for renewable fuels and a stronger economy. She will speak about the potential for canola oil as both a biofuel and as a trans fat replacement.
The Economic Club of Toronto has often been the platform of choice for business leaders, cabinet ministers and policy makers to make announcements. It was the first and only forum in Canada to present the year's economic outlook featuring the senior economists from Canada's top five banks. For more on the Economic Club of Toronto, go to: http://www.ecot.ca/index.asp
CanolaInfo takes New York - CanolaInfo, the Firehouse Chef and Babycakes muffins will be front and centre at the New York State Restaurant Association expo March 4-6.
Joe T. Bonanno, Jr., a former member of the NYC Fire Department, nutritionist, certified fitness trainer and cookbook author, will speak to expo participants about making canola oil a kitchen staple. CanolaInfo staff will also provide muffins and tea cakes from NYC's own Babycakes bakery (recently seen on Martha Stewart Live).
"We make the majority of our products with canola oil because it is both healthy and excellent for baking," says Erin McKenna, owner of Babycakes.
David Dzisiak of Dow AgroSciences will also take part in a panel discussion at the expo on replacing trans fat in restaurant applications.
Canola oil has highest smoke point - The Canola Council has added to its website the results of research that show canola oil has the highest smoke point (heat tolerance) of any frying oil. Go to http://www.canola-council.org/oil_tech.html to see the comparison chart.
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