Managing Risk in Agricultural Trade – Cotecna North America

By: Peter Moleski, Business Manager, Inland Agri Division, Canada

Global agricultural trade presents significant opportunities, but it also comes with increasing risks. Exporters, traders, and processors must manage product quality, supply chain disruptions, regulatory requirements, and fluctuating market conditions while maintaining profitability and customer confidence.

In North America, particularly in Canada and the United States, these challenges have made independent inspection and laboratory testing more important than ever.

Key Challenges in Agricultural Trade

1. Crop Quality and Food Safety

   Agricultural commodities can vary significantly in quality due to weather conditions, storage practices, handling, and transportation. Issues such as moisture variations, contamination, mycotoxins, and grading discrepancies can lead to shipment rejections, contract disputes, and financial losses.

   At the same time, importing countries continue to strengthen food safety and quality requirements, making compliance a critical part of international trade.

2. Supply Chain Disruptions and Container Shortages

   Global logistics networks continue to face challenges including container shortages, port congestion, labor disruptions, and transportation delays. These issues can increase costs, extend transit times, and impact product quality, particularly for time-sensitive agricultural shipments.

3. Market Volatility and Trade Uncertainty

   Agricultural markets are heavily influenced by geopolitical events, changing trade policies, tariffs, weather conditions, and global supply and demand. Exporters must continuously adapt to market fluctuations that can affect pricing, competitiveness, and access to international markets.

How Independent Inspection and Testing Reduce Risk

Independent inspection and laboratory testing provide reliable, third-party verification of product quality, condition, and compliance throughout the supply chain.

These services help businesses:

• Verify product quality before shipment

• Arrange for sampling at destination

• Demonstrate compliance with local and international regulations

• Reduce disputes between buyers and sellers

• Improve supply chain transparency and traceability

• Protect brand reputation

• Minimize commercial and operational risk

Cotecna's Agriculture and Food Solutions

To support the agricultural and food industries, Cotecna has invested in advanced inspection, testing, and laboratory capabilities across North America.

Our fully equipped grading laboratory in Canada provides services under CGC, USDA, and other internationally recognized standards. Staffed by highly qualified specialists, the laboratory supports a wide range of products, including grains, oilseeds, pulses, and special crops.

Cotecna's testing capabilities include:

• Physical testing

• Chemical analysis

• Contaminant testing

• Microbiology

• GMO testing

• Mycotoxin and allergen analysis

Confidence Across the Supply Chain

As quality expectations, regulatory requirements, and market pressures continue to increase, reliable inspection and testing services are essential for successful agricultural trade.

Through independent inspection, laboratory testing, and technical expertise, Cotecna helps exporters, traders, processors, and buyers improve compliance, strengthen supply chain transparency, protect their brands, and trade with confidence in local and international markets.

From farm to destination, Cotecna delivers the assurance needed to reduce risk and support successful agricultural trade.

Ready to Reduce Risk in Your Agricultural Supply Chain?

Whether you are exporting grains, oilseeds, pulses, specialty crops, Cotecna's independent inspection, testing, and grading services can help you ensure quality, compliance, and confidence at every stage of the supply chain.

Contact our Agriculture & Food experts today:

📍 Canada: operationsFQ@cotecna.com

📍 USA: agri@cotecnausa.com

About Cotecna

For over 50 years, we have been supporting agriculture, food and pharma, minerals and metals, and consumer products supply chains all over the world. We provide testing, inspection, and certification services to help our clients navigate evolving regulations, ensure product compliance, and support their sustainability journey.