Organizations representing soybean growers in Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec have formally agreed to work together to improve the profitability of Canadian soybean producers.

The new entity - the Canadian Soybean Council (CSC)  - will see the Ontario Soybean Growers (OSG), the Manitoba Pulse Growers Association (MPGA) and the Federation des Producteurs de Cultures Commerciales du Quebec (FPCCQ) initially collaborating on identifying and developing new export markets for Canadian soybeans.

 "This Council establishes an important link for growers across Canada," says Jim Gowland, CSC Chair. "This gives us the opportunity to work together to address issues and priorities that affect all Canadian growers and stretch grower dollars."

The Council's first initiative is the establishment of an export committee to oversee export market development activities. That committee consists of representatives from each of the provinces involved and the Canadian Soybean Export Association with advisory involvement from the Canadian International Grain Institute (CIGI).

"Export market development is the first step," says Murray Froebe, MPGA director.  "As our relationship grows stronger, we hope to grow to areas such as domestic and industrial markets, value-added opportunities at the farm-gate level and new research initiatives."

The CSC's first collaborative market development activity will be an incoming technical course from Asia, coordinated by CIGI.  Delegates will see various aspects of Canada's soybean industry in Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec.