Canada’s beef industry gets a $12M boost for sustainability development

In an announcement at the Calgary Stampede Wednesday, the Canadian government is putting $12 million into sustainability research in beef production.

Francis Drouin, the parliamentary secretary to the agriculture minister, said the funds would go to the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) for Canada’s Beef and Forage AgriScience Cluster, which is under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Agriscience Program.

“The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of Canadian beef,” Drouin said. “Today’s announcement will help contribute to the continued success of the industry while keeping it strong and resilient for the future. The results from these innovation, research and technology activities will transform into real results on farms.”

On top of that, the Canadian beef industry will contribute $9.6 million through the research allocation of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off, for a total investment of $21.7 million.

Craig Lehr, a beef producer from Alberta and BCRC chair, said the research results would benefit farmers, ranchers, retailers, consumers, and the whole of Canada.

“The demand for beef is expected to grow by 10 percent in the next 10 years and, with one of the lowest environmental footprints for beef production in the world, Canadian producers are well-positioned to responsibly meet growing global beef demand,” Lehr said.

He says the Beef and Forage AgriScience Cluster drives research and technology transfer that will support the profits of producers with farm improvements in animal health and performance, feed production and efficient feed use.

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Reynold Bergen, the science director of the BCRC, tells CityNews how these funds will be used.

“Those dollars are going to go towards two main things,” he said. “They’re going to go towards addressing a number of agriculture and agri-food Canada priorities, which are largely focused on climate change and environment and economic growth, but they’re also going to be focused on developing healthier and more productive and more efficient cattle and grasslands.”

He also adds that the funding and research aren’t just for Alberta but for productions across the entire country.

“Some research activities occur in every province, so all 10 provinces are represented here,” Bergen explained.

“In fairness, most of the cattle production happens in the prairies, and so most of the research activities are happening in the prairies as well, but you know we’ve got stuff going on in B.C., Ontario, Quebec, and across Atlantic Canada as well.”

The BCRC says 23 projects will be funded over the next five years, which started on April 1, 2023, and will continue until March 2028.

The government also says some projects will “explore” improved diagnostic tests and vaccines to manage cattle diseases, new forages that can thrive across Canada, and food safety technologies in beef processing facilities that reduce water and energy use.

It adds others will develop practical, science-based resources and economic decision-making tools for the industry.