Development through adoption and cooperation
In June 2018, with the assistance of the Ministry of International Cooperation and External Economic Affairs of the Zabaykalsky region, the Russian Trade Representation in Canada, the Canada-Eurasia-Russia Business Association and Manitoba’s Provincial Government, representatives of the Russian agribusiness visited Ontario and Manitoba to learn about Canadian technologies in canola and soy growing and establish partnerships among farmers of the two countries.
According to the press-release of the above-mentioned ministry, the Russian delegation visited four Canadian enterprises – Huron Commodities Inc. (Clinton, ON), Harrow Research and Development Centre (Harrow, ON), Kelburn Farm (Howden, MB) and Buhler Industries Inc. (Winnipeg, MB). Among them, the latter is well-known in Russia as an agricultural equipment manufacturer and has their Combine Factory Rostselmash Ltd. in Rostov-on-Don. One of the Russian participants, the joint-stock company “Pedigree Mill ‘Komsomolets,’” being a buyer of Versatile tractors, was able to discuss their suggestions for further product improvement during the meeting with the Vice-President of Buhler Industries Inc.
As reported by the ministry of the Zabaykalsky region, the Huron Commodities Inc. soy seeds are distributed in Russia by EkoNiva-AKP Holding. However, as this Russian company is not represented in the region, the possibilities for direct sales of the Huron agricultural commodities from Canada were discussed in the course of the visit. “Our company actively develops, and we see a tremendous business potential in Russia in general and in Zabaykalsky region in particular,” Alexander Kurnikov, trader of Huron Commodities Inc., is quoted on the website of the regional agency.
At the Harrow Research and Development Centre, Russian representatives were briefed on seed corn acreage increase and effective use of fertilizers, while on the Kelburn Farm, they learned about the agricultural technologies applied in Manitoba, a Canadian province with a similar climate to the Zabaykalsky region. As a result of the trip, Russian participants, including the Ministry of International Cooperation and External Economic Affairs of the Zabaykalsky region and the Russian Trade Representation in Canada, are going to conduct research on the ways of implementation of the Canadian agricultural experience in Russian regions and to analyze the system of federal grants in the agricultural sector in Canada.
