“We are the biggest exporter of food-grade beans (soybeans and edible beans) in North America and in food-grade soybeans. There’s no one in the states that does more than us,” said Jason McNaughton, the co-op’s identity preservation soybean marketing manager.

“I don’t think there’s one single big factor behind this, but we are really focused on food grade. We’ve focused on our growers to be food producers, and our processing quality is the best. We have a good reputation in the end-user market.”

Other Ontario players in the trade also have the necessary emphasis on quality, including what may be the province’s No. 2 player, Sevita International Corp., and Jackson Seed Services in Dresden.

They and a handful of smaller companies compete for growers. This year, those growers are enjoying premiums of $2 to $5 per bushel.

Frank Backx at Hensall and Dennis Jackson at Jackson Seeds said food-grade, non-GM varieties tend to yield as well as their glyphosate-tolerant cousins, despite claims to the contrary.

The notable exceptions are varieties with the highest protein levels, which fetch the highest premium to make up for any yield lag.

“The Roundup Ready gene does not make soybeans yield more. That’s fictitious,” Backx said.

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