Sask Ag & Food News Release
March 13, 2012

SASKATCHEWAN AGRI-FOOD EXPORTS LEAD THE NATION

For the first time ever, Saskatchewan exceeded $10 billion in agri-food exports in 2011 and now surpasses Ontario as the top agri-food exporting province in Canada.

"Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers are agricultural leaders, both at home and abroad, and continue to provide safe, reliable food to feed the world's growing population," Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud said. "This significant growth in our agri-food exports exemplifies the importance of agriculture to our economy and is part of the Saskatchewan Advantage that our producers have helped to create."

In 2011, the province's top exported agri-food products included canola, canola oil and non-durum wheat.
Canola continues to have a major impact on the province's economy with canola seed overtaking non-durum wheat as the top agriculture export commodity. In the last five years, canola seed exports have increased by 250 per cent from $856 million in 2007 to more than $2.1 billion in 2011.

"We've worked hard to expand opportunities for farmers in both traditional and emerging markets like India and China," Enterprise Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "Saskatchewan is a world leader in food production and that importance is only going to increase as the world population increases."

The top five markets for Saskatchewan agriculture products are the United States, China, Japan, Mexico and India. Since 2007, Saskatchewan agri-food exports have increased by 60 per cent, from $6 billion to $10 billion.

- 30 -