May 29, 2008
We’re No. 1! – Canola was the most valuable cash crop to Canadian farmers in 2007, according to Statistics Canada. In fact, it was third in farm cash receipts behind only cattle and dairy.
Canola put $3.4 billion in farmers’ pockets last year, while wheat and durum combined to a total of $3.2 billion. For complete statistics on Canadian farm cash receipts, visit: http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=21-011-X&CHROPG=1
Biofuels bill passed – The House of Commons has passed Bill C-33, which will implement a national renewable fuel standard across Canada, requiring transportation fuels to include biodiesel and ethanol. The bill mandates that all diesel and heating oils must contain at least 2% renewable fuel by 2012.
"The passage of this bill means new markets for Canadian canola growers, more value-added processing here at home, and it means new jobs created and the revitalization of rural communities right across Canada," says Brian Chorney, Canadian Canola Growers Association president. "It also means choice and diversity for drivers, and new and cleaner sources of fuel supply in the diesel fuel pool."
The bill now moves to the Canadian Senate for further debate.
Agreement to put DHA in canola – Dow AgroSciences and Martek Biosciences Corporation today announced an agreement to jointly develop and commercialize a canola seed that produces the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Under the terms of the agreement, Martek and Dow AgroSciences will co-develop the seed, which will produce a canola oil with DHA to be marketed to the food industry. Martek currently makes "life'sDHA," a sustainable, vegetarian source of DHA. The two companies say they anticipate a "multi-year effort" to produce the new oil.
Canola the oil of choice for restaurants going trans fat-free – The US restaurant industry is choosing healthier cooking oils in response to consumer demand for trans fat-free oils, according to a February 2008 survey. The No. 1 choice has been canola oil, followed by soybean and blends.
The 400 responses – from purchasing executives at limited and full-service restaurants – show that 28% of restaurants changed their cooking oil within the last two years. Another 12% say they have not made an oil change but are considering one now.
For a full news release on the study, go to the National Restaurant Association website: http://www.restaurant.org/pressroom/pressrelease.cfm?ID=1607
Even waste oil is valuable these days – The latest trend in criminal activity seems to be theft of used restaurant fryer oil. Restaurants from Berkely, CA to Sedgwick, KS report that thieves are stealing old cooking oil worth thousands of dollars and refining it into barrels of biofuel in backyard stills.
David Levenson, who owns a grease hauling business in San Francisco’s Mission District and converted the engine in his 1983 Mercedes to run on straight canola oil, has contracts to collect the oil from 400 restaurants, and says he is losing business.
For more on this story, go to: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/27/na-biodiesel-bandits-siphoning-cooking-oil/
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