Farm Credit Canada released a couple of trade reports recently which examined Canada's comparative advantage in agriculture and food exports.

The FCC believes that Canada is about to solidify its position as one of the world’s top agriculture and agri-food trading nations.

The pair of reports found that some of Canada's top-dollar exports were also among the fastest-growing food exports in the world.  Those include beef, chocolate, bread, pork, fruit and nuts.

Principal Agricultural Economist for the FCC Craig Klemmer says diversity is our strength when it comes to agricultural commodities and manufactured food products, and he hopes farmers continue to take advantage of the different opportunities we have.

“I don’t think that there is anything that should be done differently, it’s just taking a longer term view, and asking yourself if this report creates anything that creates any opportunity for you, something to think about for your operation. We’re (Canada) not just a single market that we are dependent on, we are not just a single commodity as we see with some of our other trading competitors. That diversity is really strength, so its pulse crops, its canola seed, its beef, its pork.”

Last year, Canada was ranked 5th for highest total export values, totally $24.6 billion, or 6.3% of the world's total food exports.

The US, the Netherlands and fast risers Brazil and China are the only countries ahead of Canada when it comes to exporting agricultural commodities. 

Canada ranked among the world's top three leaders in no less than 11 agriculture export commodities, including wheat, rye, oats, buckwheat, flax, fresh fish, and certain plants used in perfume.

You can view the entire report here.