Newsroom
2003
GrainWorld conference to examine emerging exporters
February 21, 2003
Winnipeg - Fifteen years ago, the former Soviet Union imported millions of tonnes of Canadian wheat and barley, but this year Russia and Ukraine will rank among the world’s top grain exporters. The 12th annual GrainWorld, Canada’s premier market outlook conference on grains, oilseeds, special crops and red meats, will focus on the emerging grain exporting countries of the former Soviet bloc. GrainWorld will take place February 23 to 25 at the Fairmont Hotel in Winnipeg.
“Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan have emerged as significant wheat and barley exporters in the past few years, but especially in the current year. Have we seen a permanent shift in trade patterns, and will these so-called “new” exporters continue to be significant players in the international grain trade in the future? We’ll look at this question, and the impact of the answer on Canada as a grain exporter and on western Canadian grain farmers,” said Brian White, GrainWorld Chairman.
GrainWorld’s opening panel discussion, “New Kids from the ‘Bloc’: The changing face of the international grain trade”, will feature Dr. Andrei Sizov, President and CEO of the Russian agricultural market analysis firm SovEcon in Moscow and a veteran analyst of the Soviet and post-Soviet agricultural scene and Leonid Kozachenko, the President of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation and former Vice-Minister of Agriculture of the Ukraine.
In addition to the regular market outlooks, GrainWorld will feature a panel discussion on ethanol, moderated by Brian Kelly, Chairman of Kelly Associates and featuring Dave Tupper from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Dr. Daryl Kraft from the University of Manitoba and Bliss Baker, President of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.
Following an opening reception on Sunday, the conference will open on Monday morning with opening remarks from Ken Ritter, Chairman of the CWB Board of Directors. Dr. Roger Gibbins, President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation, will present an outlook for Western Canada, while David Phillips, the Senior Climatologist for Environment Canada will look at why we have experienced such extreme weather and what’s in store for the future. There will also be add-on sessions to the conference put on by the Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network for Agriculture on “How producers meet challenges from climate change” and a presentation by the Canadian Grain Commission on the use of Variety Eligibility Declarations.
Click here for a full program. While media may attend at no cost, others may register by contacting Caroline Wiley at (204) 983-4236 or e-mail caroline_wiley@cwb.ca
GrainWorld is organized and sponsored by the Canadian Wheat Board in partnership with the rest of the Canadian grain, livestock and related industries.
For more information, contact
Brian White, Conference Chairman
(204) 983-4265
Rosa-Lynne Way
Conference Coordinator
(204) 984-2252