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TRADE AT PSCC OPTIMISTIC THAT DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION & OTHER COUNTRIES WILL REPLACE INDIAN MARKET PULSE MARKETS Alberta Pulse Growers delegates to the 2018 Pulse and Special Crops Conven on (PSCC) in Regina were pleasantly surprised to see the guarded op mism of the trade despite marke ng issues experienced throughout the year. "This was an interes ng year at PSCC," said APG Vice-Chair Don Shepert. "What surprised me most was the op mis c a tude towards domes c consump on and how the emphasis on this will help strengthen the industry. The a tude of our American counterparts and how they see consump on of peas and len ls increasing in their country was very posi ve in an otherwise very subdued interna onal outlook." Shepert a ended the annual conven on along with APG Chair D'Arcy Hilgartner, Past Chair Allison Ammeter and Execu ve Director Leanne Fischbuch. Each year the Canadian Special Crops Associa on (CSCA) hosts the conference where the domes c and global trade comes together to learn, network, and do business. Pulse grower groups send members as an opportunity to represent an important link in the pulse value chain. "Even with the ongoing Indian tariffs, the a endance was s ll very high," Hilgartner said. "It was great to see the market interest in our products. It was encouraging to see that there is s ll that enthusiasm amongst the trade to con nue to develop rela onships and new market opportuni es." The conference kicked off with the opportunity for delegates to hear from two levels of government, Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture Lyle Stewart and Federal Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Chris Forbes. Both speakers recognized that the pulse industry plays an important role in the success of the agriculture sector in Canada. J.P. Gervais, Chief Economist from Farm Credit Canada, gave an economic outlook that considered the global economic drivers for the pulse market. Gervais closed by commen ng that produc vity and strong demand will be key to advancing the industry, and he s ll feels that agriculture has a strong outlook. Other conven on topics included a session on the future of food and the reasoning behind Pulse Canada's 25 by 2025 efforts including feedback from pulse ingredient users, health and sustainability linkages and current trends that support the inclusion of pulse ingredients into food products like breads, pasta and cereals. Market access was another important topic for the conference par cipants to hear. Panel members included former trade nego ator and consultant Mike Gifford, Viterra's Blair Roth, Japanese Consulate staff member Paul Pryce, and Pulse Canada's Gord Kurbis. The team discussed the global environment for pulse markets including sharing thoughts on Canada's previous largest market, India. Gifford has been working with Pulse Canada to provide analysis on the India situa on. The message con nues to be to work with other countries that are also impacted by India's unpredictable trade policy. Countries need to decide to challenge issues like imposi on of import quotas and be proac ve on this file. The drawback from this, however, is that the process to challenge may take a minimum of two years with the World Trade Organiza on. This year, with the passage of Bill C-49, the Transporta on Moderniza on Act, the panel on transporta on, seems to be moving on to the solu ons and prepara ons that industry needs to make for transporta on to be effec ve. Pulse Canada, CSCA and the Ag Transport Coali on con nue to engage on the regula on implementa on. Pulses on display at PSCC. 2 8

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