Companies working on AgGateway’s Crop Protection Canada Connectivity (CPCC) Project held their first working meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba, last month, and have begun the first steps toward streamlining the crop protection supply chain in Canada, increasing efficiencies and reducing the cost of doing business among agri-businesses.

The collaborative eBusiness project expands on a proven approach already in use in the U.S. crop protection industry – thanks to previous collaborative work by AgGateway companies.

“We completed a very successful launch meeting, with 24 representatives from 11 companies,” said Greg Knox, Crop Protection Coordinator with Richardson International Limited. “As a channel partner, I’m excited to be involved to help move this industry forward electronically. I have no doubt that this will boost the efficiency and accuracy of the procurement process for trading partners in Canada.”

The companies currently involved in the CPCC Project are BASF Canada, Bayer CropScience, Crop Production Services (CPS), Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc., E.I. DuPont Canada Company, FMC of Canada, Monsanto Canada, Inc., Richardson International Limited, Syngenta Canada Inc., United Farmers of Alberta (UFA), and Univar Canada Ltd.

The team plans to have the first steps in the project completed by May. This includes reviewing the standards and determining further requirements for electronically transmitting order-to-invoice information. Starting in June, the team will focus on developing the elements needed for companies to go live with transactions with their trading partners by the end of 2015.

“This is the first AgGateway project focused entirely on Canadian businesses,” said AgGateway CEO Rod Conner. “Clearly the benefits achieved by the eConnectivity project in the U.S. for ordering, shipping, invoicing and sales reporting are evident to businesses in Canada, and they’re taking steps to get connected. We’re seeing similar interest and activity in Europe.”

Companies doing crop protection business in Canada are still welcome to join if they would like to influence and be a part of determining the requirements, and also to facilitate their ability to connect electronically with other companies in the project. For information contact the CPCC Project Coordinator, Marilyn Hunter, at marilyn.hunter@AgGateway.org.