Ramzy Yelda, Board Member at Soy Canada and Senior Market Analyst at Grain Farmers of Quebec provided a soybean commodity market update to attendees at the Sevita Soybean Social and BBQ at their Inkerman facility. Tinkess Photo

INKERMAN – An event that offers a chance to network, a chance to learn what is happening in your market both locally and around the world and have it all topped off with a great meal is well worth the time investment you make to attend. That is exactly what Sevita offers year after year with their Soybean Social and BBQ.

This year’s event was held on Wed., Aug. 26 at the Sevita facility located at 11791 Sandy Row in Inkerman, Ontario.

The event featured both an English and a French stream, with the same content provided for both, just in a different order. National Sales Manager Keith Brimner provided the English introduction while Jessica Aubé-Loiselle provided the French.

Before getting into the market update, three awards were presented to exceptional growers who were identified by the Sevita staff. This year the award winners were Marcel Lafrance, (all -around valued IP partner), Mattias and Odette Kaiser, and Oliver Thurler.

A Soybean Commodity Market Update was provided by Ramzy Yelda, Board Member at Soy Canada and Senior Market Analyst at Grain Farmers of Quebec. In his presentation he gave an overview of the current factors impacting the soybean and corn commodity market prices.

A tour of the facility was also provided. The rebuilt Sevita export facility is complete and fully functioning after two years of ongoing construction following the fire in February 2024. Attendees were able to see first-hand the process that food-grade soybeans undergo once they arrive at the facility on their way to international export markets. The tour provided some insight into the importance of quality assurance and how it begins the farmer, and right on through the facility and on to food makers.

Attendees were also able to view the full line-up of Sevita varieties that will be available for the 2027 growing season. The plot featured two new varieties as well as the existing lineup of both desirable food-grade and traited products. Members of the knowledgeable Sevita sales and agronomy staff were available to answer questions.

A glance into the future was also possible thanks to Sevita Genetics and Mark MacDuff, plant breeder at Sevita Genetics. The Sevita Genetics program is a leading developer of soybean varieties with a specific focus on Canadian production. It offered an opportunity to discover more about the soybean breeding process, varieties coming down the pipeline, and hot topics like High Oleic soybeans, PEKING SCN resistance, the use of drones in breeding. An informative day, to say the least.

Always the good host, Sevita provided a tasty BBQ lunch, which offered a chance to discuss what had been presented during the morning. With a full stomach and a lot to think about everyone went on their way with information that could help in making the decisions they hope would lead to a bumper crop in the years to come.