Over the years, new hybrids and crop rotation practices have made Canadian canola a highly resilient crop and a reliable supplier around the world. In fact, Canadian canola exports represent 80 percent of global canola trade. It is a $14 billion industry in Canada, and Canada-U.S. cross-border trade in canola and canola products was worth $1 billion in 2009, including 1.5 million metric tons valued at $600 million of canola seed and oil for U.S. biodiesel plants.
Canola from Canada supplies two major biodiesel plants in the U.S.: the Imperium Renewables Inc. Grays Harbor refinery in Hoquiam, Wash., and Archer Daniels Midland in Velva, N.D. They produce biodiesel for Canadian and U.S. markets and their capacity is 25 percent of the 2010 biodiesel mandate under the U.S. EPA’s renewable fuel standard of 650 million gallons (not the 2009-’10 combined volume of 1.15 billion gallons).