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NEWS BITES THAT MATTER
New publication shows opportunity for soybean oil
A new publication, Value-adding opportunities for soybean oil, produced by Soy 20/20, provides an overview of many new opportunities for soybeans.
On the industrial side, soy oil can be used as a base stock in equipment lubricants, hydraulics, coolants, greases and asphalt sealants. It can also be further processed to produce waxes and biodiesel, and a host of ingredients for cleaning products, hand lotions, solvents, insulation, furniture cushions, car seat foams, vehicle and equipment exterior panels, soaps and detergents.
The brochure is the latest in a series of Soy 20/20 resources about uses and opportunities for Canadian soybeans. Copies of all publications are available at www.soy2020.ca or by calling 519-826-6559. •
South Korea now open to Canadian beef
South Korea has recently provided official approval of Canadian beef for export to the country. The process to re-open this market to Canadian beef began last June and the agreement was reached outside of the World Trade Organization’s dispute launched by Canada in 2009.
Canadian beef has been banned from South Korea since the BSE outbreak in 2003. Currently the new agreement is only applicable for cattle under 30 months of age but efforts are expected to continue to open the market to cattle over 30 months as well.
According to a release from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canadian beef exports to Korea are estimated to be $30 million by 2015. •
Jobs a plenty in agri-food, report finds
A new report commissioned by the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) shows that Ontario has more job openings in the agri-food industry than qualified people to fill them.
Based on a survey of more than 100 agri-food organizations in Ontario, the report examined employer demand for college and university graduates and found that the demand exceeds the supply. Three jobs exist for every agricultural graduate with a bachelor’s degree.
According to the University of Guelph release, Ontario has the most diverse agri-food industry in Canada and has the nation’s largest food processing industry.
“The agri-food sector has emerged as the single most important economic driver in the province,” said Rene Van Acker, OAC’s associate dean (external relations) and a plant agriculture professor.
“We felt it important to get an assessment of the sector’s human resource needs to ensure that we are providing enough graduates and that they have the skill sets necessary to meet the challenges of current and future jobs.”
Survey respondents expected a 10- to 20-percent increase in the number of new hires directly from university in the coming years, the study said. •
