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Executive Director’s Message (PCN Summer 2015) JUL 2 2015 | Consumers and Producers | Pulse Crop News

This article appeared in the Summer 2015 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Leanne Fischbuch, Executive Director

This Pulse Crop News issue features research. The directors and staff of the Alberta Pulse Growers are committed to investing in research that addresses the needs of the pulse industry in Alberta. The majority of grower funding in the organization is directed to support research in many areas of agronomy, genetics and market opportunities.

From investments made years ago to address market access issues to positively determine that nematodes in shipments bound to India were not the pests that cause stem and bulb diseases, to investigation of genetic research for stronger and healthier pulse crops that are appropriate for the marketplace and current work on emerging diseases, research continues to lead to significant advances which will translate to grower profitability.

Today’s big issues, like investigation of the Fusarium Complex of root rots in pulse crops, are being tackled by scientists with significant support from the industry in the hope that they can be as successful in addressing research as other projects have been in addressing other issues in the industry. We are also pleased to feature a story involving Agriculture and AgriFood Canada’s only lab that tests dry bean canning quality. This is an important factor in the development of the Canadian dry bean genetics program led by Dr. Parthiba Balasubramanian and is supported with leveraged funding from industry and Science Cluster 2 federal government funding.

Please take a moment to read through the summary of APG’s current projects to learn more about where grower investment is focused.

Also in this edition, the global pulse industry came together to discuss the 2015-16 pulse crop year for the trade. Various crops and the outlooks for the crop year were discussed at the Global Pulse Confederation conference. It is always interesting to learn the reaction from growers when they see the enormity of the industry and begin to understand the challenges and demands from importing nations. We also begin to understand where Canada sits in the global marketplace. Check out page 14 to learn about Canada’s role as a significant player in the pulse industry.

Nationally, we are approaching the Canadian Special Crops Association conference, planned for June 21-23, 2015 in Calgary. This conference looks at the national industry and assesses the market outlooks for the upcoming year. Because it is held in June, there will be good information about the planting of pulse crops in Canada and elsewhere. This information was not as clear during the International Conference held in April. APG will be participating at the event hearing updates on transportation, International Year of Pulses celebrations, and other issues and opportunities that are facing the industry.

The national MISSION: IMPULSEIBLE Student Food Processing Development competition is also being held during the conference. Alberta’s entry into the competition were students from the University of Alberta who have a fantastic product that they hope will be top in the minds of the judges during the competition. See page 36 to learn more about their journey to the national event.

Finally, I am excited to announce that two new staff members have joined the organization. Debra McLennan, APG’s new Food and Nutrition Coordinator joined us in May. Debra has organized the past two MISSION: IMPULSEIBLE competitions in Alberta and has been a huge supporter of pulses in her work as a Registered Dietitian. Her profile is on page 6.

APG is also excited to welcome Nevin Rosaasen to the role of Policy and Program Specialist. Nevin joined the organization in June, and he will be featured in a future edition of PCN. Nevin will be working with farmers to address their immediate pulse agronomic questions, as well as taking on a new role with APG to help formulate policy for the organization. Nevin has most recently been a research economist with Alberta Agriculture and continues to keep his practical farm skills sharp working on his family’s farming operation in Saskatchewan.

While you enjoy this issue of Pulse Crop News please keep in mind that your investment of service fees to the organization enables the various projects and the scientific researchers and staff throughout Canada who are working on pulses to help keep our industry moving forward and innovating for success. Our goal is to help growers like you to sell more pulses, and through research and innovation success we are on our way.