Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm – Canary seed exports from Saskatchewan were worth over C$100 million in 2023, the provincial government announced on Sept. 11.
Saskatchewan produces 90 per cent of Canada’s canary seed crop, which is also known as alpiste and is used as a health food and bird seed. The top destination for the province’s canary seed exports was Mexico.
“Saskatchewan plays a key role in establishing Canada as the world’s largest producer and exporter of canary seed,” Agriculture Minister David Marit said in a news release. “Global consumption for canary seed is relatively steady, and meeting that need as a reliable supplier of this and many other agricultural commodities is one of the reasons why our producers have always had such an important role in our economy.”
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“Saskatchewan remains a reliable producer of food, fuel, fertilizer and critical minerals the world needs,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “After a record-breaking year of agri-food exports, it is more important than ever that we continue to reach new international markets. The Saskatchewan Mexico Trade and Investment Office has been a key component in strengthening exports to the region, resulting in economic benefits here at home.”
According to Statistics Canada (StatCan), 284,418 acres of canary seed were estimated to have been planted across Canada in 2024 for a projected crop of 161,869 tonnes. In Saskatchewan alone, an estimated 274,039 acres were grown for a potential crop of 155,525 tonnes.
Canada accounts for more than half of global canary seed production, exporting to other countries including Belgium, Brazil, Spain and the United States. Canada exported 112,265 tonnes of canary seed during the 2023-24 marketing year, with Mexico accounting for 31 per cent of the total, according to StatCan data.
Saskatchewan also surpassed C$20.2 billion in agri-food exports in 2023, exceeding its 2030 Growth Plan target of C$20 billion seven years ahead of schedule.
