February 5, 2007

Saskatchewan hog industry to partner with Asian producers
 

Saskatchewan agriculture minister Mark Wartman, currently on a trade mission to Japan and China to promote Saskatchewan investment and trade opportunities noted there might be opportunities for the Canadian province's hog industry through partnerships with China or Japan.

He said some groups had shown "significant interest in the possibility of partnering" for hog processing.

As the world's largest net importer of agri-food products, Japan is a key market for Saskatchewan's agriculture and agri-food industry. In 2005, Saskatchewan exported approximately US$486 million of agricultural products, mainly oilseeds, wheat and durum, barley and pork to Japan.

While wheat, barley and canola have traditionally been Saskatchewan's top exports to China, there has been export growth in recent years in the areas of fresh pork and plants for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Trade opportunities also exist in frozen, boneless cuts of pork, beef and poultry, western-style processed meat, functional foods, natural health products and biotechnology.

The Canadian hog industry got a blow last year when Maple Leaf Foods withdrew its plans for a US$110-million pork plant in Saskatoon.

Wartma also strengthened his arguments for the retention of the Canadian Wheat Board's role as a single-desk marketer of western wheat and barley.

The Chinese Oil and Food Corporation (COFCO) supported the same, he said.

The federal government has pledged to end the board's monopoly on marketing grain internationally.