Letter from the Chair – Spring 2025

Dear fellow canola growers,

I am honoured to have been selected by the board to serve as Chair for the upcoming year. As a third-generation canola grower from Valhalla Centre, located just northwest of Grande Prairie in Alberta’s Peace Region, I am proud to represent our community and Alberta’s canola growers.

As Alberta Canola celebrates its 35th year of advancing the canola industry, we see that world trade, regulations, and policy are more important than ever. We are currently facing tariffs from China and the United States; however, by working with our national organizations, we are actively trying to minimize any long-term impacts these tariffs may have.

One key solution we are exploring is increasing homegrown biofuel production, which aligns perfectly with canola’s potential. In the upcoming election, it will be crucial for us to engage with candidates to ensure this solution becomes a reality.

One thing is certain in these challenging times: Alberta Canola, your provincial, farmer-led, grower organization remains steadfast in its mission to support the long-term success of canola farmers in Alberta through research, extension, consumer engagement, and advocacy.

This includes close collaboration with two national organizations: the Canadian Canola Growers Association, which represents canola farmers nationwide, and the Canola Council of Canada, which represents the entire value chain, including growers, crushers, exporters, and life sciences companies. These groups lead the interface with the federal government on behalf of canola growers, with input and support from Alberta Canola. Successes have been achieved, such as the recent re-approval of lambda-cyhalothrin for flea beetle control.

Alberta Canola will continue to advocate on behalf of growers directly to the provincial government on canola issues, and as part of Team Alberta Crops, we will address issues that affect all farmers.

The core work of Alberta Canola continues to focus on research, advocacy, public education, and grower engagement, and this newsletter provides an update on these important activities.

I strongly encourage you to subscribe to our e-newsletter to stay informed throughout the growing season (albertacanola.com/subscribe).

Andre Harpe, Chair of Alberta Canola