Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Call it an opportunity to realign one’s goals and objectives. The Processing for Profit Conference on Tuesday, November 29 in Saskatoon is a chance to get the latest on processing pulse crops.
The Western Canadian Marketers and Processors Association, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, is putting the event on. Garth Patterson is Executive Director of the SPG.
“The conference is a chance for the province’s pulse processors to get together and for everyone to find out where things are at on a number of issues, like the movement of U.S. peas and lentils into Canada or the variety commercialization program.”
The conference will feature everything from technology to trade issues.
Renata Bereziuk is a Marketing Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.
“The pulse industry is an important component of our agriculture sector. From our perspective, it is important that we foster opportunities to increase value-added processing activities in Saskatchewan. In order for this to occur, the industry as a whole needs to gain a better understanding of international markets and trade considerations.”
This is why the organizers have invited Hakan Bahceci, Managing Director of Hakan Agro-Commodities Trading Company in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to share his expertise about the Middle East and North African regions on trading pulses, oilseeds and other commodities.
On the processing side, Dr. Joyce Boye, scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, will elaborate on processing products and technological developments to process pulse crops.
These guest speakers will take care of the morning plenary sessions.
In the afternoon, participants will break out into concurrent sessions along two streams: Moving Up the Value Chain, and Marketing in the World.
On the value chain side, Glen Olson of the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association will elaborate on working with the food distribution broker industry; Kellie Jackson, a Food Quality Assurance Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, will talk about traceability in the food system; Carmen Ly of the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre will elaborate on the resources available to help in the development and commercialization of products; and Dave Sippell of Canterra Seeds will address the whole issue of branding Canadian special crops.
On the marketing side, Dr. Linda Malcolmson of the Canadian International Grains Institute will talk about their pulse processing and specialty milling facility; Armand Lavoie of Foragen Technologies Management will address the area of business financing with venture capital; and Bruce Wilson of Wilson International Trade Consultants will take us inside the investment side of the industry and talk about partnerships and procedures; and Craig Zawada of Wallace Meschishnick Clackson Zawada will talk about strategic alliances and joint ventures, with a focus on legal and cultural aspects when dealing internationally.
As a closing keynote address, Dr. Bob Tyler and Gerald Henriksen of the University of Saskatchewan will bring future prospects on using pulses in food, and Greg Simpson of the Western Canadian Marketers and Processors Association will share final thoughts with all participants, at the end of the day.
The conference, which is funded in part by CARDS, takes place at the Saskatoon Travelodge starting with registration and trade show exhibits at 8 a.m. For agenda details, visit the SAF website at www.agr.gov.sk.ca and click on About Us | Calendar of Events | November.
For more information, contact:
Garth Patterson
Executive Director
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Association
(306) 668-6676
Ray McVicar
Special Crops Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4665
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