Commissions work together

In an ongoing effort to strengthen market opportunities for Canadian wheat, the wheat commissions in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba will be collaborating with grain companies on a renewed representative governance model and strategic direction for the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi).

The newly announced Cigi Board of Directors includes two representatives from each of the Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) and Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat), and one representative from the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA). The new Board also has five representatives from grain companies.

“Cigi adds tremendous value to the Canadian wheat brand through technical support and education to our global customers,” said Kevin Bender, AWC director and newly elected Cigi chair. “This is an opportunity for producers and industry to create dialogue around the Board table that will both shape the future of Cigi and continue to build Canada’s global reputation as a producer of high quality wheat.”

This renewal in governance and strategic direction of Cigi coincides with the wheat commissions assuming the responsibilities and financial obligations of the Western Canadian Deduction (WCD), which will end on July 31, 2017. Cigi has asked the three Western wheat commissions for funding that matches grain industry contributions over the next two crop years.

The collaborative approach taken by the three provincial commissions with the Cigi Board of Directors follows in the footsteps of the ratification of a memorandum of understanding in January, which signalled the continued commitment to provide producer funding to Cigi as well as to core wheat breeding activities currently being funded through the WCD via the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF).