Bye bye to SoyFoods Canada

Thursday, August 11, 2011

by SUSAN MANN & BETTER FARMING STAFF

Even though SoyFoods Canada has given up its charter and has already ceased its operations, another group is continuing the organization’s work to develop new opportunities for Canadian soybeans.

Guelph-based Soy 20/20 was established in 2002. President Jeff Schmalz says its mandate is very similar to SoyFoods Canada. But “we’re a little bit better positioned than SoyFoods Canada to carry it on.”
 
SoyFoods Canada issued a notice July 18 that it intends to apply to the federal industry minister to surrender its charter. Its membership was Canadian soy food manufacturing companies. The organization ceased to exist after Aug. 1.

Soyfoods Canada was established in 2000 and member organizations included all sectors of the Canadian industry including growers, suppliers, processors and distributors as well as marketing firms. “Our mission is to encourage growth, integrity, and sustainability in the Canadian soyfoods industry by promoting soyfoods, including soy-based foods and ingredients, to consumers,” says its website.

Schmalz, who was on the SoyFoods Canada board, says it decided six to eight months ago to move the organization’s initiative over to Soy 20/20. That organization lists its founding members as: the University of Guelph, the provincial soybean board, (now Grain Farmers of Ontario) the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

“There was a lot of duplication of effort and they worked on the same things that my organization is working on so it was decided to just move it over here and we’ll continue helping to build the soy food business in Canada,” he says.

Schmalz says Soy 20/20 is working on new opportunities for soybeans in the domestic market but “that doesn’t mean we can’t help create companies here and have them export product.

“There’s no loss of focus of effort. In fact there will probably be more effort.”

Schmalz says Soy 20/20 is well funded and has a strong network. “We have some good food industry expertise on our staff and we can help build the business pretty strongly.” BF