Federal government helps sprout new market for bean growers

Canadian bean farmers will benefit from innovative research to develop new bean varieties for Canadian and international markets.

Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb announced last week that the Ontario Bean Producers’ Marketing Board is receiving $840,000 to develop new bean varieties that will improve crop yields and quality, as well as advance the Canadian dry bean industries.

“Our government’s top priority is the economy and the agriculture industry plays a key role in driving economic prosperity of our farmers and all Canadians,” said Lobb.

“Beans offer up-and-coming market opportunities for farmers as consumer demand for healthy diet choices grows.”

The money is supposed to create bean varieties with higher levels of bacterial resistance that will reduce costs and boost yields.

Three years ago, the Ontario Coloured Bean Growers Association, the University of Guelph, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada began work to develop a comprehensive bean breeding program.

“We’re pleased with this investment,” said Grant Jones, chairman of the research committee of the marketing board. “It’s a positive note for the industry as a whole and will create some great new initiatives.”

Dr. Peter Pauls, chairman of plant agriculture at the University of Guelph, said, “This [Developing Innovative Agri-Products] funding strengthens the unique partnership between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the University of Guelph and bean growers in Ontario to broaden our research.

“This project will focus on improving agronomic performance, disease resistance, and cooking and processing qualities in new bean varieties.”

Ontario produces about 60 per cent of Canada’s dry beans.

In 2010, beans provided $236 million from exports with $130 million from Ontario production.

This spending comes from the federal-provincial, territorial Growing Forward framework.