Global Ag View: Thriving market for cereal growers as brewing boom hits Canada

Showcased as part of a Grain Farmers of Ontario tour of the region, the country is seeing a similar explosion in the number of craft breweries and distilleries that the UK is also experiencing.

This meant some grain elevators were shifting their resources to keep up with demand.

Cribit Seeds, West Montrose, Ontario, had invested heavily in new equipment to partly meet demand from the Brewers Supply Group.

Niche

Julia Thompson from the company said: “We are niche because of our focus on oats and barley.”

The region predominates in corn and soyabeans.

Demand for whisky, gin and vodka was also rising, with Spring Mill Distillery, Guelph, starting# production this year. Using rye, malting barley, corn and wheat, it was symptomatic of the sort of venture booming in the province.

With more than a third of Canada’s 36 million population within Ontario, many of these new businesses were convinced the large population on their doorstep gave them a huge commercial opportunity.

Demand for wine was also growing and given that some believe pockets of the UK could extend their acreage of vineyards due to a warming climate, many had impressive retail and tasting set-ups to showcase their products.