Canada
March 18, 2005
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Bi-weekly Bulletin
Volume 18 Number 6
Canada accounts for about 85% of world production and about 90%
of world exports of canary seed. The value of Canadian
canary seed exports averaged about $100 million during the past
five years. For 2005-2006, Canadian canary seed production
is forecast to decrease, but supply is expected to be similar to
2004-2005. Therefore, the average price is forecast to be
the same as in 2004-2005. In the longer term, Canario,
which was developed in Canada, offers opportunities for food and
industrial uses, and is expected to result in increased demand.
This issue of the Bi-weekly Bulletin examines the situation and
outlook for canary seed. It also includes an overview of
Canadian spice crops production.
WORLD
Production and Trade
During the past 10 years, world canary seed production ranged
from a low of 149,000 tonnes (t) in 2001-2002 to a high of
347,000 t in 1996-1997. Annual production was variable,
but the variability was mainly in Canada.
Most of the world’s canary seed production is exported.
Canary seed exports have been relatively stable during the past
ten years, averaging about 210,000 t per year. Although
normally there is little substitution of other birdseed for
canary seed, substitution occurs in years when the canary seed
price is high compared to alternatives, such as millet.
The substitution occurs mainly in wild bird seed mixtures.
In 2003, the latest year for which statistics are available,
world exports were 204,000 t and imports 221,000 t.
However, about
10% of the exports were re-exported to third countries.
Canada dominates world exports, accounting for about 90% of the
exports in 2003, if re-exports are excluded. Argentina and
Hungary are the only other significant exporters of canary seed,
excluding re-exporters such as the United States (US), Belgium
and Netherlands. Imports are much more widely distributed
than exports, with the top five importing countries (Mexico,
Brazil, Belgium, US and Spain) accounting for about 65% of
imports.
CANADA
Production
Canary seed is a cool season crop which prefers long warm days
and cool nights. It is well suited to the Canadian prairies and
matures in approximately 100 days. Canary seed is shallow
rooted and is more sensitive to heat and less drought tolerant
and salt tolerant than wheat. It does best on heavy clay
or clay loam, moisture retentive soils. Canary seed should
be planted as early in May as possible. Late seeding can
lead to delayed maturation of the straw during harvest.
Canary seed is shatter resistant, which allows it to be straight
combined. If the crop is swathed, it should not be cut
until it has reached full maturity and should be combined soon
after swathing. Caution should be taken to keep
dehulling to a minimum, since dehulled seed is classified as
dockage and must be cleaned out. Canary seed with the hull
intact is shiny and golden yellow. Dehulled canary seed is
dark brown in colour. Canary seed can be stored for long
periods of time without losing quality, provided it is put into
storage in good condition. Canadian canary seed is
normally harvested in September and early October.
Canadian canary seed production during the past ten years has
been variable, ranging from 114,000 t in 2001-2002 to 300,000 t
in 2004-2005. Canada’s share of world production increased
during this period as production in Argentina and Hungary
decreased. On average, Saskatchewan accounted for 90% of
Canadian production, with the remainder produced in Manitoba and
Alberta.
Canario
Canario is a glabrous or hairless type of canary seed developed
in Canada, with first commercial production starting in 1997.
Canary seed has tiny hairs at the base of the seed that break
off and cause severe itching to producers, processors, and
packagers. Canario eliminates that problem. Canario
also helps the industry through reduced shipping costs due to
12% greater seed packing per container and the elimination of
the oiling and polishing steps in processing.
The Canadian Special
Crops Association (CSCA) has obtained registration for the
trademark Canario in Canada, European Union and Mexico.
Registration in the US and Brazil is pending. Canario
varieties must be 97% glabrous in order to bear the Canario
trademark. The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) has
developed a Canario Seed Analysis Certificate to be used for
shipments of canary seed which meet the Canario standard.
Uses
Canary seed has only one market at the present time, as a major
component in seed mixtures for pet and wild birds.
Typically it is mixed with seeds such as millet, sunflower seed,
safflower seed, niger seed, buckwheat, cereal grains, flaxseed,
and canola.
Marketing
All of the canary seed produced in Canada is sold on the open
market to dealers. Canary seed going to customers in Canada and
the US is shipped bulk in trucks or in containers which are
carried by trucks or trains. Canary seed going to northern
Europe is usually shipped bulk, whereas canary seed going to
customers in southern Europe and other parts of the world is
usually shipped in containers. Some canary seed is grown
under production contracts, which guarantee a price for part of
the production, but most is sold on the spot market.
The Canadian Special Crops Association (CSCA) establishes trade
rules for domestic trade and serves as a forum for exporters,
dealers and brokers involved in the industry of trading Canada’s
pulse and special crops, including canary seed. The
website includes a section where buyers can submit a request for
prices.
Canary seed does not fall under the Canada Grain Act and
Regulations. Therefore, the CGC (www.grainscanada.gc.ca)
has not established grades for the crop and canary seed
producers do not qualify for compensation should companies
licensed by the CGC default on their payments.
Export specifications for canary seed are usually minimum 99%
pure seed, with a maximum of 4% dehulled seed.
Domestic Use
Canadian domestic use, which includes bird seed, seed and
dockage, has ranged from 20,000 t to 50,000 t per year during
the past ten years. Canary seed is mixed with other seed
for bird seed by processors located in western and central
Canada, and sold under their own brands or under customized
store brands. No standards exist for mixes or packaging.
A company in Saskatchewan is using organic canary seed in
organic bird seed mixtures.
Exports
Canadian exports of canary seed are mainly in the bulk,
unprocessed form, although packaged seed mixtures are also
exported. Exports have been variable, ranging from 122,000
t to 170,000 t per year, but with a slight upward trend during
the past ten years. The western hemisphere and Europe are
the main destinations for Canadian canary seed, although it is
exported throughout the world. The main importing
countries are Mexico, US, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Belgium,
Italy and Spain. Although Canada is the dominant exporter,
it has competition from Argentina in Brazil and from Hungary in
Europe.
Prices
Canadian prices are determined on an export basis because Canada
exports about 85% of its canary seed production. They are,
therefore, highly sensitive to the value of the Canadian dollar
in foreign markets. Since there are no futures markets for
canary seed, prices are negotiated between the producer, dealer
and customer based on supply and demand factors. The
prices negotiated could be for immediate or future delivery.
The average price has been volatile, depending on supply,
ranging from $240 to $660 per tonne (/t) during the past ten
years.
OUTLOOK
World: 2005-2006
Production is forecast to decrease by 20%, from 2004-2005, to
270,000 t, because of lower production in Canada. Total
supply is forecast to increase marginally to 410,000 t, due to
sharply higher carry-in stocks. Total use is expected to
increase slightly due to higher demand and carry-out stocks are
expected to decrease slightly.
Canada: 2005-2006
Area seeded is forecast to decrease by 30% from 2004-2005, due
to lower potential returns compared to many alternative crops.
However, the harvested area is expected to decrease by 24%,
assuming a return to normal abandonment. The abandonment in
2004-2005 was higher than normal due to frost damage and a late
harvest. Assuming trend yields, production is forecast to
decrease by 23% to 230,000 t. Total supply is forecast to
increase marginally to 370,000 t due to higher carry-in stocks.
Exports are forecast to increase slightly
because of higher demand and carry-out stocks are expected to
decrease slightly. The average price is forecast to be the
same as in 2004-2005 because of the relatively stable supply.
The main factor to watch is precipitation during the growing and
harvest periods.
Canada: Longer Term
The development of Canario offers opportunities for food and
industrial uses. Researchers have established that Canario
groats (dehulled seed) have a protein content of about 19%,
which is significantly higher than for wheat and other cereal
grains and is close to pulse crops. Canario’s oil content
is about 9%, about four times as high as for wheat. The
oil is made up of 32% oleic and 54% linoleic fatty acids, a
desirable composition for human
consumption. Prolamin and glutelin are the main storage
proteins in canary seed, constituting 78% of total proteins.
Canary seed protein is high in cystine, tryptophan and
phenylalanine, but low in lysine and threonine. It would
be a good supplemental protein source for dairy proteins, such
as casein and whey proteins. Its starch content is similar
to wheat, at about 61%. Canario has a high lipid content, which
could be valuable by-product. The presence of antioxidant
activity in Canario lipid could be a delaying factor in
rancidity of Canario products during storage. Canario
starch comprises small polygonal granules, smaller than
commercially available starches. It was found to form a
rigid gel which was stable under cooling and freezing
conditions.
Canario could be roasted and used as a low fat substitute for
sesame seed in bread and snack food. It has the potential
for use as a fat substitute because the oil is high in
unsaturated fat. Canario’s starch properties could
make it suitable for use in the cosmetics industry or as an
industrial dusting starch. Canario can be separated into
starch, protein, oil and fibre by wet milling. The flour
can be used in baking wheat-Canario and multi-grain bread and
cookies.
The use of Canario for food and industrial products is expected
to encourage premium pricing for Canario compared to traditional
canary seed. It would also increase demand for Canadian
canary seed significantly. This in turn would result in
increased economic diversification through the replacement of
traditional crops and through the development of new processing
opportunities for food and industrial uses.
SPICE CROPS
Canadian spice crops production is concentrated in Saskatchewan,
with smaller volumes produced in Manitoba and Alberta. The
main spice crops produced in Canada are caraway seed and
coriander seed, but a small amounts of fenugreek seed and dill
seed are also produced.
Seed from spice crops is used to add flavour to food.
Caraway seed is used to flavour such foods as bread, cheese and
sauerkraut. Coriander seed is used to flavour products
such as curries, gin and prepared meats.
Caraway seed produced in Canada is usually from biennial
varieties which require a second growing season to produce seed.
Although annual varieties are available, they are lower yielding
and late maturing, which increases the risk of frost damage.
Coriander seed is an annual crop.
World production data for caraway seed and coriander seed is not
available. Caraway seed is produced mainly in northern
Europe, India, US and Canada. Coriander seed is produced mainly
in countries along the Mediterranean and Black seas, Argentina,
India and Canada.
Canadian production data for caraway seed and coriander seed is
only available for the main producing province, Saskatchewan.
Production of both crops in Saskatchewan has been variable, in
line with variable seeded area, crop abandonment and yields.
Spice crops are sometimes grown under production contracts.
Average prices have also varied due to production variability in
Canada and other producing countries and lack of world
production data.
Most of Canadian caraway seed and coriander seed exports are to
the US. Other significant destinations for caraway seed
are Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and for coriander seed
United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Japan
and Brazil.
This document, with tables, in PDF
format:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/mad-dam/e/bulletine/v18e/v18n06_e.pdf
For more information please contact:
Stan Skrypetz
Pulse and Special Crops Analyst
Phone: (204) 983-8972
E-mail: skrypetzs@agr.gc.ca
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