FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 5, 2009

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES AT CIGI DURUM PROGRAM

WINNIPEG – Representatives from four countries are attending the 12th International Durum Wheat Program at the Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) in Winnipeg. The 10-day program, which began August 5, includes lectures, laboratory sessions and pilot processing demonstrations on Canadian durum wheat.

The 10 international participants represent trading organizations, mills and processing companies from Cuba, Italy, Japan, and Peru. Three representatives from the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB), which is sponsoring the program, are also attending.

In addition to the sessions at CIGI, the participants will travel across Western Canada where they will visit primary and terminal elevators, a grain farm, an agricultural research centre and the Port of Vancouver.

“The program will provide our international customers with an understanding of Canadian Western Amber Durum wheat with a focus on milling quality, pasta production and pasta quality,” says Len Seguin, CIGI Director of Cereal Technology. “Topics include breeding, production, grading, handling, transportation, marketing, milling and end-use processing. Canadian industry representatives will also be present for discussion with the participants in formal and informal settings.”

CIGI is a non-profit market development organization dedicated to promoting Canada’s field crops in domestic and international markets through educational programming and technical activities. Core funding for CIGI is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Wheat Board. Additional funds and support are provided by other sectors of the agriculture industry. Since 1972, CIGI has hosted more than 30,000 participants from 114 countries.

For more information contact:

Len Seguin
Director of Cereal Technology
Canadian International Grains Institute
Tel. (204) 983-5912
Cell (204) 781-8514 (after August 10)
lseguin@cigi.ca

Ellen Goodman
Communications Specialist
Canadian International Grains Institute
Tel. (204) 983-1145
egoodman@cigi.ca

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