don't risk it
 

Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake. The Ontario Wheat market has grown over the past decade to be a leader in North America. Careful segregation is essential to sustain this market. Every farmer delivering wheat needs to be certain that the right class is getting to the right place. Using the wrong kind of wheat can damage the production, quality and business of food processors.

It has already happened. At least one major processor has experienced shut downs and losses due to poor segregation of varieties. During the 2003 crop year, Griffith Laboratories encountered problems using Ontario soft flour due to the high incidence of gluten development. Soft wheat is used to avoid gluten development, important for many of the products they manufacture and sell.

Heavy costs. Until proper wheat could be sourced, production had to halt and improper product had to be destroyed. This resulted in an estimated loss of half a million dollars for this one major end-user alone. Other processors are facing similar difficulties and their customers further down the value-chain also face losses.
 
Everyone is affected.
When food processing lines are shut down due to varietal contamination, the entire wheat value chain loses. Markets for Ontario wheat are at risk and we all need to retain this valuable market.

• Millers and end-users demand consistency and functionality

• Various wheat classes and varieties have unique quality traits

• Inappropriate mixing of varieties can result in unpredictable quality

• Inconsistency jeopardizes access to multi-million dollar markets
 
 

Segregation for Success.
The Ontario wheat industry is now working together through the Ontario Wheat Technical Committee to create a collaborative solution that will provide class specific segragation with the co-operation of the entire value chain.

Deliver the right product to the right customer. Be sure that classes and specialty varieties are kept separate throughout the production and delivery process. Where variety names are declared, certified seed must be used as proof of identity.


The Wheat market has changed a lot in the last few years. Growing acreage, more classes of wheat, increased varietal options, and changes in the marketing of wheat production has created a valuable market for Ontario farmers.

Today Ontario has become the most diverse region of wheat production and utilization in North America.

• Multiple milling companies grind seven different sub-classes of Ontario grown wheat

• Exports of value added products made from Ontario wheat are valued at $1.5 billion

• 600,000 tonnes of Ontario wheat are used in value-added applications by Ontario end-users

• More than 20,000 workers are employed in the sector

DON'T RISK THIS GROWTH.
 

Brought to you by the Ontario Wheat Technical Committee, composed of the Ontario Agri-Business Association, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board, the Ontario Flour Millers Association, end-users, and others within the entire wheat value chain.

Funding for this project was provided in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agriculture Adaptation Council's CanAdapt Program.