The Canadian Government wants to show it's support for the growing demand of Canadian grain in the international market.

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, announced an alternative service delivery program for grain testing on August 3.

The recognition of export grain analysis by authorized laboratories program, also known as the REGAL program, will give exporters the option of having their grain tested for phytosanitary purposes by private laboratories.

For the industry, this means more choices and timely service to better access international markets.

MacAulay says, the government is helping grain farmers and exporters get their product to market more efficiently, and helping to meet their goal of reach $75 billion worth of annual agri-food exports in 2025.

"Canadian grain exports are continuing to rise because of bigger crops and industry improvements in how grain is stored and shipped demonstrating a need for grain testing options."

The program aims to build the relationship between the Canadian Grain Commission and the Canadian Food Inspection agency to better serve the grain sector.

The REGAL program will initially be focused on grain exports to India and China, since they are Canada's largest grain export partners.

In 2016, about $5.1 billion of grain was shipped to India and China.