GrainsWest Winter 2020

now being on the front-end in the organization. Having had 14 years of experience in the malting and brewing industry, and of course handling barley, among other crops when I was with Canterra Seeds, I know the people and the organizations we’re working with. That helps a lot. Coming back into barley specifically after having a broader focus, I’ve had to come up to speed and become more familiar with areas like feed barley, having had less experience there. GW : What are some of the changes that can be expected for the BCC? EA: No. 1, we now have a service-level agreement with Cereals Canada. I con- sider it a partnership. We’re working with them on market access issues, commu- nications and other similar issues. The other two main pieces we’re looking at … we’re working much more closely with the BMBRI on big research issues and more closely with the CMBTC on development and broader industry discussions. GW : What led to these closer relationships? EA: We had to take a look at what the functions of an entire value chain are. What development and what research is important? Often, there’s no shortage of work for all these organizations to do, there’s just a shortage of resources. We’re trying to collectively figure out how best to get done what really needs to get done. It’s like trying to use a telescope and a microscope at the same time, which can be difficult. We want to see the broader context, nationally and internationally, but we also have to look at the specifics of our own organizations to see what we need to do there. GW : What would the impact of these changes be on farmers in Canada? EA: These changes and closer collab- orations will ensure that collectively, resources are used as best they can be. We can avoid duplication of work and we can better fill in gaps. Of course, we’ll all focus on our areas, but as we’re all talking, there may be times to have a unified voice. Also, increased collaborative communi- cation provides insight and helps us look at opportunities for further changes that benefit producers. GW : The BCC was part way through an AgriMarketing Program (AMP) grant from AAFC when the strategic review was taking place. The grant is intended to look at long-term feed barley export opportunities. What is the future for that program? EA: BCC still has the AMP project, although it was paused while undergoing the strategic review. We needed to take a look at what we’re doing and what we’re going to be doing. There’s been minor ac- tivity this year on it, and we’re in year two of the current three-year project. CMBTC is taking the lead on market development plans for barley and we’re still discussing what to do on the feed barley front. AAFC is aware that we’re working with CMBTC and others on a comprehensive market development strat- egy for all barley. GW : What does the future of Canada’s barley industry look like to you? EA: First off, barley acres went up this past year, so it is clear barley remains relevant. Second, there’s a focus—not just in barley, but other crops as well—on diversification. That could be diversifica- tion of use or of the market. Even looking around at things like The Barton Report and seeing the emphasis on increasing exports and diversification, it’s important to us to take issues like these into account as we work on them. The big thing is, an- ytime there is change and unsettlement, there’s opportunity. We need to make sure we capitalize on that opportunity. Photo:Courtesyof JuliLabreque Fall 2019 Grains West 18 Jill McDonald, Delaney Seiferling, Luke Harford, Brittany Burden and Erin Armstrong pictured celebrating the first ever Canadian Beer Day, which took place onWednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. PERSON PLACE & THING