Study says more crop processing at home could boost Canada’s economy

A new report commissioned by Protein Industries Canada says Canada could add billions to GDP and create thousands of jobs by processing more of its crop exports domestically instead of shipping raw commodities abroad. The study, released Sept. 22 at the Plant Forward trade show in Saskatoon, estimates that redirecting 10 per cent of raw crop exports to domestic valueadded processing could generate up to $5.4 billion in additional GDP, $1.1 billion in government revenue and about 34,000 fulltime equivalent jobs. The analysis, prepared by Ernst & Young LLP, looks at opportunities in human food, animal feed, ingredient processing and bioindustrial uses such as biopolymers, lubricants, packaging and pharmaceuticals. Industry leaders quoted in the report say Canada has room to expand manufacturing capacity, reduce supplychain inefficiencies and strengthen domestic supply chains as it seeks to diversify trade relationships.