Canadian Wheat Board

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The wheat quality control system in Canada

Varietal registration and functional performance

Tight control of the registration of varieties into a grain class in Canada is the cornerstone of our quality assurance system, and sets it apart from those of our competitors. Before a wheat variety can be registered for production in Western Canada, it must undergo careful evaluation for end-use quality performance, agronomic performance and disease resistance characteristics. Each of the unique wheat classes, such as Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat, has a distinct range of functional characteristics. In the final three years before a variety can be considered for registration, the new variety is grown in a series of crop performance trials across the wheat-growing region. The candidate variety is compared to current reference varieties on all aspects of quality, agronomic and disease performance, and will not be accepted if there is significant difference from the expected performance. The purpose of this tight varietal control is to provide functional uniformity within each class, ensuring customer satisfaction. All varieties registered in a class will exhibit very similar end-use performance and shipments will be consistent in processing quality, cargo to cargo and year to year. This is important for a class of wheat such as CWRS, since large quantities of CWRS are produced each year across a wide range of growing environments in Western Canada. Certain CWRS varieties may be adapted for growing in specific regions, but the registration system ensures they will perform in a manner comparable to varieties grown in other regions. This allows blending of wheat from a wide geographic basis with little or no impact on end-use performance.

The same is true of all the wheat classes. As new varieties are developed having significant improvements in quality, such as improved gluten strength, then these varieties will take over as the new reference standard. This allows classes to improve in quality over time without significant quality fluctuations from year-to-year.

As well, any new wheat variety must not conflict with the visual distinguishability rule that is used to separate wheats of different classes. Each of the seven western Canadian wheat classes has been assigned a combination of seed-coat color and physical kernel configuration that is different and distinctive. This is called Kernel Visual Distinguishability. The differences have to be great enough so that grain inspectors can readily distinguish one class of wheat from another as wheat moves from farms through primary elevators to customers in Canada or around the world. Complete separation of these seven different classes of wheat is possible as they move through the transportation and distribution channels. This separation ensures that buyers receive wheat with consistent end-use performance characteristics (e.g. milling and baking) and high inherent quality, regardless of which class or grade of wheat they purchase.

Grading system

Canada's stringent grading system, enforced independently by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), is recognized as the best in the world. The grading system in Canada provides a series of maximum tolerance levels for a range of important characteristics that ensure functionality, cleanliness and freedom from disease, noxious seeds or other deleterious factors. As well, all Canadian grain is cleaned at terminal position prior to export and is thus "commercially clean". The cleaning process ensures that dockage is removed from the grain prior to export.The grading system is responsive to customers; end-use requirements for grain and operates on a foundation of scientific support. The standards that are imposed on a wheat variety in order for it to meet a grade designation are based on milling and final product requirements. The Grain Research Laboratory and Industry Services of the CGC continually review the effects on end-use quality of the many grading factors encountered in Western Canada. There is a direct line of feedback from customers, either through the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) or through the CGC, when changes to grading standards are needed. This means that grading factors for Canadian wheat are always relevant and responsive to customer needs.

When buying official CGC grain grades from Canada, customers do not need to rely on any additional contract specifications to assure them of satisfactory performance. The total package of grain grade determinants and their tolerance levels has been developed with a focus on positive impact on end-use functionality. All shipments are accompanied by a CGC Certificate Final that is the buyer's independent assurance of grain quality from the Canadian government. If there is a dispute over any aspect of the grain's grade or performance, the CGC will investigate the inquiry and provide its independent analysis.

Uniformity

The geography of Western Canada and the marketing structure have contributed to the creation of a transportation and handling system which causes grain of the same grade grown in different regions to be combined and blended by the time it reaches export position. Further to this, all classes of wheat delivered to Canadian export terminals are segregated according to grade. These factors minimize regional variability, imparting uniformity between and within lots of similar grade.

During vessel loading, wheat is inspected on a continuous basis to ensure that each shipment meets or exceeds the CGC's official export standards established for each grade of grain. It is only after the CGC's inspector-in-charge is satisfied that the grade and weight of grain loaded on a vessel are correct that the Certificate Final is issued.

As mentioned earlier, uniformity is also assured through the registration system. With the strict quality requirements inherent in this system, there are very few new varieties introduced. Currently in Western Canada, there are 15-20 million tonnes of CWRS grown annually, and about 80 per cent of the production comes from only eight CWRS varieties, all of which meet a rigorous quality standard. This continuity contributes significantly to the maintenance of uniformity within and between shipments.

Canadian wheat has an enviable worldwide reputation for uniformity and consistency from shipment to shipment and from year to year. In terms of flour yield, flour ash, protein content, gluten properties, falling number, baking absorption, loaf volume, or whatever the quality criteria may be, millers can easily predict functionality simply by buying the desired Canadian wheat class and milling grade. This is very important to a miller in a wheat importing country, especially when a replacement shipment for a poor quality product could be weeks, if not months, away.

Cleanliness and safety

Whether considering insect infestation, other cereal grains or foreign material such as chaff, straw, weeds or a dozen other possible contaminants, Canadian wheat has proven itself to be the cleanest in the world. Strict grading standards and cleaning procedures, both at primary and export levels, ensure buyers get exactly what is paid for. This is a benefit to millers, as the cleaning of excessive dockage can result in health and safety problems, as well as in higher costs for operating andmaintaining cleaning equipment. Cleaner wheat will also result in higher milling yields.

Grain safety is another major quality commitment. Due to Canada's cold winter climate, the need for pesticide application for insect control is greatly reduced compared to other exporting countries. The CGC continuously monitors chemical residues, mycotoxins and trace elements, providing customers with the assurance that grain shipments will meet the most stringent tolerances. Western Canada's grain is among the safest in the world.