MarketsFarm — Pulse Canada has undertaken a survey of pea and lentil growers to gauge the sector’s environmental footprint and to provide data for a public repository.
The survey is a joint project with Alberta Pulse Growers, SaskPulse and Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers.
The survey is a life cycle assessment of pea and lentil production and similar to those by other industry players, said Denis Tremorin, director of sustainability for Pulse Canada.
The survey focuses on land location, acres, fertilizer, pesticides and fuel use. He cautioned farmers might find the process somewhat challenging.
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“All we’re asking is that farmers do their best. If they can’t answer a question, that’s fine. We’re just trying to gather as much information as we can,” he said.
Companies, governments, academics and consultants no longer rely solely on reports and want to use public inventory data sets, he said. In turn, Pulse Canada wants to provide good data on Canadian pea and lentils to such a set.
Tremorin said a company recently contacted Pulse Canada wanting data regarding pea protein production. “If the data was in those inventories, they would not have had to call,” he said.
Another aspect to the survey is to assist Pulse Canada to diversify Canada’s market.
“One of the things they are interested in is the sustainability,” Tremorin said.
The deadline to fill out the survey is Feb. 7, but Tremorin said there’s a slight possibility that deadline might be pushed back. As a small incentive, growers who fill out the survey are entered into a prize draw.
— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm in Winnipeg; includes files from Robin Booker of the Western Producer.
