Our February Issue

THE BEEF, PORK & POULTRY INDUSTRY DIGITAL MAGAZINE

February 2022

THE ROLE OF LIVESTOCK IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN CANADA FCC: Drive Away Hunger Almost Doubles this Year’s Goal $228 Million Flood Recovery Recovery Program to Help B.C. Farms Farms Alltech Canada Planet of Plenty Award Forks Up for Canadian Ag: Celebrating Canada’s Agriculture Day

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MEAT BUSINESS July/August 2017 MEATBUSINESSPRO February 2022 2 CANADIAN

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FCC: Drive Away Hunger Almost Doubles this Year’s Goal

Tyson Set Profit and Sales Records

The Role of Livestock in Sustainable Food Production Systems in Canada

Alltech Canada Planet of Plenty Award

$228 Million Flood Recovery Program to Help B.C. Farms

Here’s How Key the Ambassador Bridge is to U.S.-Canada Trade

Forks Up for Canadian Ag: Celebrating Canada’s Agriculture Day

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THE BEEF, PORK & POULTRY INDUSTRY DIGITAL MAGAZINE

February 2022 Volume 24 Number 2 PUBLISHER Ray Blumenfeld ray@meatbusiness.ca

FCC: DRIVE AWAY HUNGER ALMOST DOUBLES THIS YEAR’S GOAL

MANAGING EDITOR Scott Taylor publishing@meatbusiness.ca DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR Cam Patterson cam@meatbusiness.ca CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kim Ominski, Kebebe Gunte,

Partners in Canada’s agriculture and food industry have once again rallied behind Drive Away Hunger, providing an equivalent of more than 36 million meals to food banks and feeding programs across the country.

Founded by Farm Credit Canada (FCC), the industry-wide initiative has been collecting food and cash for nutritious meals for the past 18 years. FCC contributed an equivalent of 2.6 million meals toward this year’s record-setting result, which almost doubled this year’s campaign goal of 20 million meals.

Karin Wittenberg, Getahun Legesse, Genet Mengistu, Tim McAllister, Virginia Labbie CREATIVE DIRECTOR Patrick Cairns

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The results were announced today at the Future of Food conference in Ottawa—a gathering of industry stakeholders hosted by FCC to mark Canada’s Agriculture Day. "Our agriculture and food industry not only makes a significant contribution to Canada’s economy, but also contributes to the well-being of those most in need within our communities,” said Michael Hoffort, FCC president and CEO, noting this year’s shift towards broader participation of agriculture and food industry partners brought new energy into the campaign.

“Those who grow, produce and process food and beverages every day truly understand and appreciate the importance of providing high-quality and nutritious food,” he said. “FCC is proud to support those in the industry who are making a real difference in people’s lives and we look forward to even greater participation and results next year.”

FCC, which founded Drive Away Hunger, has served as a catalyst by engaging the larger agriculture and food community in raising food and cash donations since 2004. To date, FCC employees, customers and community partners have provided over 121 million meals to food banks in Canada.

Food Banks Canada is focused on providing healthy choices for those who live with food insecurity and appreciates the efforts of all involved with Drive Away Hunger.

“The food and agriculture industry remains a critical partner for Food Banks Canada in our mission to relieve hunger in Canada,” said Kirstin Beardsley, CEO of Food Banks Canada. “The recent Drive Away Hunger results, raising more than 36 million meals, reinforces this industry’s unwavering commitment to help our neighbours who are facing food insecurity. We are so grateful for your support.”

Hoffort said Canada’s agriculture and food industry is resilient and in a great position to help promote food security in Canada.

“Our commitment to Drive Away Hunger reflects our corporate values and what we stand for as an organization, and we are inspired by the pride, generosity and commitment we see throughout the industry that has made these outstanding results possible,” he said.

To find out more about Drive Away Hunger, visit driveawayhunger.ca.

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THE ROLE OF LIVESTOCK IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN CANADA

By Kim Ominski, Kebebe Gunte, Karin Wittenberg, Getahun Legesse, Genet Mengistu, and Tim McAllister.

Global drivers such as the growing human population, evolving consumer preferences, globalization, and climate change have put pressure on the agri-food sector to produce more livestock products with less land, feed, and water.

Taste, nutritional value, cost, convenience, source, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability of food are criteria upon which purchasing decisions are made. In response, an environmental footprint analysis composed of greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient and water use efficiency, water quality, carbon storage, and biodiversity has been completed for many commodities.

However, as livestock production systems occur within complex agro-ecosystems, it is extremely challenging to formulate a single overall sustainability metric. There is no “silver bullet” to solve the environmental concerns of all livestock production systems as they operate under different constraints on different landscapes, with different water and nutrient cycles, and soil types.

Furthermore, the lack of scientific evidence regarding the interactions between livestock production, human nutritional adequacy, and the health of

our environment makes it difficult for consumers to interpret this information and make informed food choices. This review examines these complex interactions and trade-offs, as well as the potential impacts of changes in consumer dietary choice on environmental sustainability, nutritional adequacy, and land use.

INTRODUCTION A resilient and sustainable food production system that conforms to the nutritional, health, and environmental expectations of consumers is a laudable goal, but one that presents many challenges to the agri-food sector.

Particularly problematic is the challenge to measure and communicate science-based information regarding the role of livestock in complex agro-ecosystems. The intent of this review is to highlight key drivers regarding protein production and consumption, including environmental sustainability and the introduction of meat alternatives. In addition, the importance of livestock as an essential element of a circular bioeconomy, leading to improved system sustainability, will be addressed.

GLOBAL DRIVERS IMPACTING ANIMAL PROTEIN PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION The agricultural sector is faced with the daunting challenge of producing food for a growing global population, which is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, 9.7 billion by 2050, and 11.2 billion by 2100, with sub-Saharan African countries accounting for more than half of the growth of the world’s population between 2019 and 2050.

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to 4 kg·capita. Growth in the global demand for animal-based protein could present export market opportunities for Canadian livestock producers.

CONSUMER PREFERENCES AND THE NEXUS BETWEEN DIET, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH

Population growth along with increased socio-economic status and urbanization are expected to increase global demand for meat and dairy by 57% and 48%, respectively, between 2005 and 2050. The majority of growth is expected to occur in developing countries.

The East and Southeast Asian region is expected to realize income growth of 60%–100% per capita by 2028, resulting in an increase in the consumption of meat by 5 kg·capita in China and 4 kg·capita in Southeast Asia, largely from poultry and pork. Beef consumption in China is also expected to rise by 0.5 kg·capita over the next decade, bringing average consumption

Links between diet, nutrition, health, and environmental sustainability have increased the complexity of diet selection for consumers as they search for a sustainable diet. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines sustainable diets as those with “low environmental impacts which contribute to food and nutritional security and to a healthy life for present and future generations. Sustainable diets are protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, cultural preferences, accessible, economically affordable, nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy, while optimizing natural and human resources”.

The sustainability of animal-based diets has been widely questioned, with an emphasis on the adoption of plantbased diets to reduce global agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, combat land-use change, and improve

Continued on page 6

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have become increasingly available, it is paramount to ensure that recommendations to restrict meat consumption do not lead to increased intake of highly processed carbohydrate-rich foods that are often high in salt and sugar but low in essential nutrients.

human health outcomes. A recent Canadian survey revealed that more than 48% of respondents stated that they consume meat daily, whereas 40% consume meat once or twice per week.

The nutritional attributes of livestock commodities are well documented in the published literature but are less clear to consumers as they seek unbiased information regarding the impact of diet choice on nutrient adequacy and health. Animal-based products, including meat, dairy, and eggs, have high nutritional value and are an important source of protein and essential amino acids.

For example, red meat is a source of several essential trace nutrients, including B vitamins, with B12 obtained exclusively from animal sources, as well as A, D, and K2 (organ meats) and various minerals with zinc, selenium, and iron that are often more available in animal than plant-based protein. Further, red meat is rich in essential amino acids, i.e., methionine, threonine, and lysine, and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, i.e., EPA and DHA, which are deficient in plantbased diets.

Animal-based food products are not only a valuable source of micronutrients but also account for 18% of global caloric and 25%–33% of protein consumption by humans. The Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database 2016 has identified an inverse relationship between the inclusion of animalsourced foods in the human diet and the global hunger index. Simulated removal of livestock from the human diet in the U.S. was predicted to result in excess dietary energy and increased nutrient deficiencies for American consumers. Similarly, respondents who reported less meat and dairy or no meat and dairy consumption in France, had lower intake of protein and several micronutrients, suggesting a potential increased risk of deficiencies. Although it has been suggested that reducing or eliminating livestock production would result in increased food production and more calories per person, chronic health issues related to excessive caloric intake do not align with the underlying goal of achieving global food security.

Food choices that are not informed by sound science may also have unintended negative consequences on environmental sustainability. Beef raised without the use of productivity-enhancing Continued on page 10

Recommendations regarding restrictions on red meat intake must consider nutrient requirements for all segments of society, including young children, adolescents, women of childbearing age, as well as aging populations in which protein and micronutrient intake may be less than optimal. Although dietary advice to limit red meats remains standard in developed countries, energy intake from processed food has increased at the expense of nutrient-rich foods — a dietary trend that has negative health consequences including obesity and other associated diseases such as diabetes. As highly processed, ready-to-consume foods

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technologies, such as hormones and implants, has captured the attention of consumers, although it has been demonstrated that meat does not play a significant role in the daily intake of steroid hormones compared with human production of these compounds.

Further, studies in the U.S. and Canada have shown that the use of productivity-enhancing technologies results in a 5%–10% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia emissions, as well as a 10% reduction in the amount of land required to produce the same quantity of beef. In addition, a simulation study examining the impacts of removing animals from the agricultural production system on total U.S.

remainder associated with industrial processes (7.7%) and waste (2.4%). As a consequence, CO2 is the largest contributor to total emissions (80%), the majority of which arise from the combustion of fossil fuels.

Emissions from livestock digestion accounted for less than half of all agricultural emissions, representing 3.3% of total Canadian GHG emissions in 2018. Despite the comparatively lower emissions compared with some other sectors, considerable effort has been expended in estimating the environmental footprint of beef, dairy, and eggs.

Over a 30 yr time period (1981–2011), Canadian beef producers have reduced GHG emissions by

ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT OF ANIMALBASED PRODUCTS IN CANADA An environmental footprint of a product involves an evaluation of sustainability indicators including GHG emissions, nutrient balance, land and water use efficiency, water quality, carbon storage, and biodiversity throughout the production chain.

The functional unit selected to estimate GHG emissions can significantly influence the carbon footprint associated with any given food type. For example, GHG emissions from the production of processed fruits and vegetables expressed on a weight basis were lower than meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, grain and other foods, as well as sweets. However, when expressed per 100 kcal of energy, vegetables had higher emissions than meat or dairy products.

Several studies have also examined the relationship between the nutrient density of foods and GHG emissions, demonstrating that animal-based foods have consistently lower emissions on an intensity basis for energy, protein, or overall nutrient density on a per weight basis.

In Canada, agriculture accounts for 8.1% of total GHG emissions while energy from all sources including transport accounts for 81.6% of emissions, the

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15%, ammonia emissions by 17%, water use by 20%, while using 24% less land. Similarly, in another study conducted in the U.S., the nation’s beef industry in 2007 required 30% fewer beef cattle, 22% less water, and 33% less land, with a 16% decline in the carbon footprint per kilogram of beef than in 1977.

Many commodity groups in Canada have implemented on-farm food safety programs which have expanded to include metrics associated with animal care, biosecurity, environmental stewardship, traceability, and human resource management. Commodity chains have also developed and communicated industry goals to the general public to demonstrate efforts for continuous improvement in several areas of environmental sustainability. For example, organizations involved in Canada’s National Beef Strategy which include the Beef Breeds Council, Beef Cattle Research Council, Canada Beef, The National Cattle Feeders’ Association, Canadian Meat Council, and Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef recently announced a new set of industry goals for 2030 in the areas of GHG and carbon sequestration, animal health and welfare, and land use and biodiversity. These steps to benchmark meatbusinesspro.com

focuses on the production of agricultural commodities with minimal external inputs, closing nutrient loops, and reducing negative impacts on the environment in the form of wastes and emissions. Understanding the circularity of agricultural systems has the potential to identify opportunities to apply precision technologies to enhance recycling and utilization of agricultural waste throughout the production system.

NSF INTERNATIONAL FOCUSES ON CANADIAN FOOD INDUSTRY WITH NEW The ruminant production system is one in which WEBSITE FOR SERVICES IN CANADA

human-indigestible biomass, including grasses and Global public health organization showcases services for Canada’s growing and fast-changing forages, crop residues, grain screenings, by-products from commodity processing, and foodstuffs that fail to food industry meet the quality standards for human consumption are NSF International in Canada recently launched a new accredited International Association for Continuing converted high-quality protein the form of meat website - www.nsfcanada.ca - to give Canada’s growing Educationto and Training (IACET) site.inTopics include HACCP, and milk.

As a consequence, cattle are often referred and complex food and beverage industry easy access food safety and quality, GFSI benchmarked standards, toregulations as “up-cyclers”, upgrading inedible plants and plant to the global public health organization’s expertise and (including FSMA), food science, food packaging, services in Canada. The website combines information food microbiology and ISO standards.

Training modalities by-products to high-quality protein and essential current practices and develop and implement on the depth, experience and capabilities of the NSF include eLearning, on-site,and customized and open enrolment. micronutrients, vitamins, minerals. best management practices that further heighten International Canadian office with access to NSF

environmentally and dedicated clearly sustainable International’s favorable global services to food safety and quality. outcomes will be key to retaining the social license needed for livestock production.

Evolving regulations across countries and increasing complexities associated with a globalized food supply

Additionally, the website includes information about system registrations forsource the food, Inmanagement addition to serving as a valuable ofautomotive, nutrients, environmental, information security, medical devices, numerous by-products are garnered from livestock aerospace and chemical industries, as well as for Ontario including hides, tallow, blood, hooves, horns, organs, drinking water programs.

bones. These by-products are utilized to produce network present challenges for NSF International clients in and Improvements in emission intensities in all livestock Visit the new Canadian website at www.nsfcanada.ca to review the food commodities including pharmaceuticals, Canada around the Canadian website marketable safety services capabilities video, find a list of Canadian food experts, learn sectors haveand occurred as aworld. resultThe of new improvements cosmetics, leather, brushes, adhesives, charcoal, about upcoming events and global news releases, a question offers expertise and services to help companies navigate YesGroup_CanadianMeatBusiness-Qtr-pg.pdf 1 submit 2014-05-16 1:20:17 PMor read both in animal productivity (reproductive efficiency, Continued on page 12 an FAQ. these challenges, including certification and auditing, weaning weight, and carcass weight) and crop yields consulting, technical services, training and education, (barley grain, barley silage, corn grain, and food and label compliance, packaging, and corn product and silage), irrigation efficiency, as well as improved process development. genetic selection, disease management, precision NSF International’s Canadian website provides information feedonformulation, feeding technology. Production the followingand services: intensity and emission intensity are inversely related, Certification & auditing: Third-party food safety audits andand therefore, the use of precision technologies certifications, which are integral components that of enhance theselection efficiency livestockcompliance. productionAccurate systems supplier andof regulatory can audits improve are sustainability. the first step toward successful verification of a company’s food safety system, providing improved brand protection and customer confidence.

ROLE OF LIVESTOCK IN A Certifications and audits are available for animal and produce in the CIRCULAR BIO-ECONOMY agriculture industry, GFSI certification and management system registration.

Most often, environmental footprints examine only one Consulting: A full-service team approach providing or two sustainability indices associated with complex technical resources, expertise and insight for a wide range agro-ecosystems as it is extremely challenging to of food safety and quality services. NSF International establish a single value to assess overall sustainability. provides finished product inspection testing for food, Elements of livestock production systems, including packaging and non-food testing for rapid analysis and insight to protect thebiodiversity, brand, technical services carbon sequestration, andsupport other ecosystem from on-site temporary permanent technical staffing services, are metrics thator are often overlooked in life placements, and various types of consulting. cycle analysis and environmental footprinting. With services: A one-stop solution for food product suchTechnical a wide variety of factors influenced by animal compliance formulation, from concept to finished agriculture, it isand difficult to measure and communicate product, and label compliance, packaging, to the publicincluding the rolefood of these diverse and multiproduct and process development, and shelf-life and functional production systems in a “circular bioproduct evaluation. economy”. The concept of a “circular bio-economy” Training and education: Training for the global food and beverage industry across the supply chain as an

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and organic production systems. Manure can be excreted directly on pasture or collected from intensive livestock production systems where it may be subject to secondary processing procedures such as stockpiling, composting, or dewatering prior to land application.

Manure may also be used as a fuel, either by drying and combustion or as a substrate in biodigesters that generate biogenic methane.

shampoo, glass, and pet food. Using the entire edible protein content from farmed animals, including currently underused meat co-products to meet the protein requirements of the global population could further improve environmental sustainability. In the U.S., it has been estimated that if cattle were removed from the landscape, 43.2 × 109 kg of humaninedible food and fiber by-products would no longer be converted into human-edible food, pet food, or industrial products. In addition to the loss of a key protein source, many plant by-products normally fed to animals would be directed to landfill adversely affecting our environment.

Livestock manure is an important element of a circular bio-economy as it is an important source of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace elements that are essential for soil health and plant growth. Manure incorporation into the soil also reduces the need for commercial chemical fertilizers, lowering the use of fossil fuels that are required for their production.

The economic and environmental merits of integratedcrop livestock production systems, including the use of manure, have been well documented in conventional

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From a global perspective, the role of livestock extends beyond nutrition, having social, economic, cultural, and political implications in developing countries. Not only do they provide essential nutrients for early childhood cognitive development, but livestock also have the potential to be “transformative” providing cash necessary for food staples, farm inputs, and education, as well as draft power while producing manure as a fertilizer.

In addition to diet selection, as consumers, we all have a role to play regarding the environmental impact associated with food waste. Globally, food waste and loss is staggering — with losses of 30% for cereal foods, 45% for fruits and vegetables, 20% for oilseeds and pulses, 45% for roots and tubers, 20% for dairy products, 30% for fish and seafood, and 20% for meat.

In Canada, total avoidable and unavoidable annual waste along the food value chain is estimated to be 35.5 million metric tonnes, 32% of which is avoidable and valued at $49.5 billion. This represents 51.8% of the money Canadians spend on food, 3% of Canada’s 2016 GDP, and enough food to sustain every person in Canada for almost 5 months. Potential inclusion of food waste in livestock diets is a preferred strategy for food waste management, as compared with composting or disposal of food wastes in landfills. However, there is a paucity of data available regarding the magnitude of this practice in Canada, and additional research is necessary to examine the full potential of using food waste streams in livestock diets.

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FUTURE DIRECTION Livestock and poultry production systems are part of a circular bio-economy from which our food is derived, with both environmental impacts and benefits. The complexity of these agro-ecosystems has made it difficult to evaluate and compare overall production system sustainability based on multiple environmental indicators. Although we have refined our ability to measure complex environmental metrics such as biodiversity and carbon sequestration, we do not have a mutually agreed-upon public vision for their valuation. This impacts our ability to alter management strategies as public priorities change more quickly than food production systems. More recently, the intersect between diet, environment, and health has further widened and complicated sustainability assessments, as it is impossible to develop a single metric to assess the myriad of factors that constitute a sustainable diet.

Therefore, although sustainable production systems and diets are important for human and environmental well-being, there is no “silver bullet” approach to define the trade-offs that exist between environmental health, human health, economic feasibility, and cultural preferences of the consumer.

attention is an ever-allusive challenge. Engagement between industry stakeholders and consumers in Canada has been facilitated through public programs including Agriculture in the Classroom, Open Farm Day, as well as national initiatives including the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity whose mandate is to coordinate research, dialogue, resources, and training in Canada’s food system. There is an immediate need for dieticians, environmental/agro-ecosystem scientists, and policymakers to work together to inform public education and policy initiatives using science-based information to ensure optimal use of natural resources, nutritional adequacy, improved human health, and the environmental sustainability of Canadian diets.

Multi- and trans-disciplinary collaboration is required to understand the complexity of food production and consumption and to develop and implement creative solutions to address environmental challenges.

However, as we support consumers in their quest to make informed choices regarding diet, we must be mindful that there is room in the marketplace for a variety of food production systems.

To read the entire report, visit https://cdnsciencepub. com/doi/full/10.1139/cjas-2021-0005

Social media has facilitated global communication regarding the impact of agriculture and food production systems on the environment, often without recognition of the differences in management practices that exist in various regions of the world (e.g., Amazon rainforest and Prairie grasslands). Commodity chains including the production sector, as well as retailers and conservation groups, must continue to monitor and report nationally/regionally appropriate sustainability metrics to garner and maintain consumer confidence.

Not only they are the sustainability metrics difficult to measure, but they are also equally difficult to communicate to the general public. As stakeholders in the livestock sector, we are eager to share our knowledge with consumers. How we capture their meatbusinesspro.com meatbusinesspro.com

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$228 MILLION FLOOD RECOVERY PROGRAM TO HELP B.C. FARMS B.C. farmers who suffered extraordinary damages in last year’s devastating floods will have access to up to $228 million in federal-provincial government support to help their farms return to production and support British Columbia’s food security and agricultural communities in the years ahead.

Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, MarieClaude Bibeau and British Columbia Agriculture Minister Lana Popham recently announced the Canada-BC Flood Recovery for Food Security Program, which will leverage the federal government’s AgriRecovery Framework and Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA).

“The B.C. agricultural community has pulled together and demonstrated its strength and determination in the face of devastating floods. There is still a long way to go, but the Government of Canada will continue to work with the Government of British Columbia to support our farmers. We are here to help them rebuild so they can quickly get back to doing what they do best: producing high-quality food for Canadians,” stated Minister Bibeau.

The Canada-BC Flood Recovery Program for Food Security will help farmers who have incurred extraordinary expenses from uninsurable damages such as: • Clean-up, repair and restoration of land, barns and animal shelter, water and waste systems; returning flood impacted land and buildings to a safe environment for agricultural production • Repair of uninsurable essential farm infrastructure; reasonable repair of on-farm structures such as livestock containment fences, and the rental of temporary production facilities drainage ditches and riprap • Animal welfare; replacement feed as well as livestock transportation, veterinary care and mortality disposal • Loss of perennial plants not raised for resale Continued on page 16

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The response was designed following extensive consultation with agricultural organizations and individual farmers in the different disaster areas.

Lana Popham, B.C. Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries said, “The November flooding was the most impactful disaster ever in our province, resulting in profound losses for many B.C. farmers and food producers, and we’re responding with a program that delivers the greatest amount of support of its kind in B.C.’s history. We’ve worked closely with farmers and farming organizations to make sure we have a comprehensive response that will help them get their farms back in production, and continue our collective efforts to build a resilient food system and economy in B.C.” The governments of Canada and British Columbia have also established a committee of federal and provincial ministers who are working together and with Indigenous leadership to guide immediate and ongoing support to British Columbia families, businesses, and communities affected by the extreme weather events.

Program criteria and application forms are available at gov.bc.ca/agrifloodrecovery. One-on-one assistance in English and Punjabi is available to farmers requiring assistance completing the applications through agrirecovery@gov.bc.ca or 1 888 332 3352.

QUICK FACTS • More than 1100 farms, 15,000 hectares and 2.5 million livestock from the Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford to Merritt and Princeton were impacted by the floods.

• AgriRecovery is a federal-provincial-territorial disaster relief framework to help agricultural producers with the extraordinary costs associated with recovering from natural disasters. Initiatives under the framework are cost-shared 60:40 between the federal government (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) and provinces/ territories, as outlined under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

• This response provides support with extraordinary recovery costs not covered by existing programs or private insurance (see backgrounder 1 for initiative details).

Farmers who have already undertaken any work are advised to keep their receipts, track the hours of work involved, and take pictures documenting the damage and repairs to support their application.

Kevin Boon of the BC Cattlemen's Association stated, "2021 has proven to be one of the most challenging years for B.C. ranchers and farmers. With the extraordinary events of severe drought, wildfires, and flooding it is extremely important to our food security in the province and to the sustainability of our food producers that they have the support to rebuild from these disasters. The Canada-BC AgriRecovery Team has worked hard to build this comprehensive program to help producers get back to doing what they do best, raising the food British Columbians depend on.”

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• The Government of British Columbia will leverage the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA), administered by Public Safety Canada, which provides financial assistance to provincial and territorial governments, at their request, when response and recovery costs following an extreme weather event exceed what individual provinces or territories can reasonably be expected to bear on their own. The federal government has provisioned for $5 billion in 2021-22 for its share of recovery costs under the DFAA as well as other costs related to the recent extreme weather events in British Columbia.

• Other income and insurance programs are in place to provide support for lost income (see backgrounder 2).

AgriRecovery and DFAA focus on the disaster costs not covered by other programs or insurance.

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THE BEST DEFE A STRONG OFFE

PROMOTING THE HEALTH BENEFITS

By Ronnie P. Cons

Red meat is often wrongly portrayed as being unhealthy. some in the media as unhealthy or not environmentally fr Vegan, fish and other non-meat diets have been proposed as healthier alternatives. The result of this onslaught of negative meat messages has influenced many families to cut back on their meat and poultry purchases. Perceptions may reality but truth trumps misinformation. Parents and other consumers want what is best for their health and that of their families.

They are also aware that a lot of false information is out there as such,million: are openThe to scientific that canvehicles correct their •and US$921.2 value offacts passenger misconceptions. imported to Canada in December 2021, the largest

HERE’S HOW KEY THE AMBASSADOR BRIDGE IS TO U.S.-CANADA TRADE Canada-bound traffic on the Ambassador Bridge was recently ground to a halt as people protesting vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions have closed access to the bridge.

The bridge itself is one of the most important trade links between the U.S. and Canada.

Here are some key numbers behind the bridge: • 27%: How much two-way traffic the Ambassador Bridge accounts for each year between Canada and the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

• US$137 billion: How much trade the Ambassador Bridge accounted for in 2021, according to WorldCity, a trade data consultancy.

• $2.2 billion: The value of goods that was imported into Ontario from Michigan in December, according to Statistics Canada.

This providesby andollar-value opportunity for retail meat commodity between thedepartments U.S. and to implement an instore ‘Healthy Meat Facts’ nutritional Canada, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

campaign to set the record straight and convince their customers that meat and poultry are actually good for one’s •health 1.398and million: Theshould number of trucks that they increase ratherthat thanentered decrease Canada from Michigan in 2021, according to the U.S. their purchases of it. The campaign outlined below can have Department ofon Transportation. a direct impact sales: Start by displaying instore posters promoting the nutritional

•value 2.3 kilometres: length of the Ambassador Bridge, of meat. TheyThe should be innovative, eye catching and be designed specifically according totothe bridge's contradict website. any meat myths. The comments should all be literature based quoting research

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Posters can convey the following healthy meat fact messages: 1. Let’s IRON out the Truth on Meat!

“You would need to eat a massive amount of spinach to equal (the iron content) in a steak,” says Christopher Golden, an ecologist and epidemiologist at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (As quoted by nature.com in the article ‘Brain food- clever eating’.)

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TYSON SET PROFIT AND SALES RECORDS Tyson Foods recently reported that it’s first-quarter profits nearly doubled due to soaring U.S. meat prices.

The surge reflects strong demand and high prices for Tyson's beef, pork and chicken, as U.S. labor shortages have limited production.

Tyson, owner of Hillshire Farms and Ball Park hot hogs, is kicking off earnings for meat producers at a time when U.S. lawmakers and regulators are ratcheting up scrutiny of the tightly concentrated industry. The companies blame a lack of labor, high transportation costs and strong consumer demand for the upward pressure on prices.

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"Customer demand continues to outpace our ability to supply product," Chief Executive Donnie King said.

The average price for Tyson's beef surged 31.7% in the quarter ended on Jan. 1, while the unit's operating margins jumped to 19.1% from 13.2% a year ago.

Average prices for all of Tyson's products climbed by 19.6%.

Overall sales for beef soared about 25% to $5 billion, helping Arkansas-based Tyson's sales rise 24% to $12.93 billion in the quarter. Analysts, on average, were expecting revenue of $12.18 billion.

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DF: I don’t think being on the island has really impacted us negatively one way or the other. We’ve traveled a lot, met a lot of other farmers and livestock producers in other parts of Canada, and we all seem to have the same issues and same concerns.

CMB: I understand that your farm was the first in Atlantic Canada to be involved in the TESA program.

DF: Yes, I think we were the first farm east of Ontario as far as I understand.

I’m not sure why the eastern Tyson said it raised meat prices to offset associations wouldn’t have previously higher costs for labor, transportation and nominated anybody because there are grains used for animal feed. cost of many farms here on PEI Its doing every goods rose by 18% in the quarter, and bit as much as we are as to attain a King told reporters heofexpects grainAnyway, prices will high level sustainability. continuewetowere rise.very surprised when the PEI Cattleman’s Association nominated our farm.

CMB: And then you were attending the Canadian Beef conference in Calgary and you won.

DF: Yeah! That was a very nice moment for us. But I don’t like to use the word win actually. However, being recognized for our commitment was a real honour. If you want to know the truth, it was a pretty humbling To respond, Tyson As restructured chicken experience.

I said to CBCits when they pricing strategy toafter make more flexible phoned me theitconference, I wasand has asked tocouldn’t pay forbelieve freightit.rates justcustomers floored, really

that jumped King CMB: 32%, So now thatsaid. you have been recognized, do you think that will

"They'redraw dealing a very morewith attention andinflationary garner more nominations of Atlantic Canada environment acrossout kind of all their going said forward? businesses," Adam Samuelson, lead agribusiness analyst at Goldman DF: Absolutely.

We’ve gotten Sachs. a lot of good press highlighting the island cattle industry. I’m positive you’ll see more farms in our neck of the woods nominated next year. And I have to give the Canadian Cattleman’s Association recognition for choosing a farm from Prince Edward Island. We are small players in the national beef industry and I think it was a real credit to their organization to recognize us. They treated all the nominees royally and it a real class act. It was a wonderful Tyson iswas targeting $1 billion in productivity experience. savings by the end of fiscal 2024, according

to a recent statement. It has been investing to build new chicken plants and increase use of automated technology to boost output. meatbusiness.ca meatbusinesspro.com

https://www.yesgroiup.ca September/October 2017 CANADIAN MEAT BUSINESS 17 March 2021 MEATBUSINESSPRO 17 19 February 2022 MEATBUSINESSPRO

ALLTECH CANADA PLANET OF PLENTY AWARD Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) member Alltech Canada, is currently seeking entries for their Planet of Plenty Award. Alltech Canada wants to recognize the farmers, producers and ranchers who are putting the power of agriculture to work to produce nutritious food while preserving our natural resources and creating a Planet of Plenty.

Alltech Canada wants to recognize the farmers, producers, and ranchers who are putting the power of agriculture to work to produce nutritious food while preserving our natural resources and creating a Planet of Plenty.

Do you use science-based solutions for food production in Canada? Have you adopted new technology, a new business model, or management practice? Is your work sustainable, and resources responsibly managed to create a world of abundance for future generations?

Does your work elevate the agri-food sector and benefit the Canadian agriculture industry? Do you help to develop a thriving community?

If so, you could be their next winner.

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For more information, visit https://go.alltech.com/ planet-of-plenty-ca meatbusinesspro.com

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February 2022 https://www.cfib.ca MEATBUSINESSPRO

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FORKS UP FOR CANADIAN AG: CELEBRATING CANADA’S AGRICULTURE DAY It is important to take a day to recognize those who produce our food and all the people who work in the agri-food industry. The past year has certainly provided many challenges for agri-businesses across the country.

It is that time of year again to celebrate Canada’s Agriculture Day and recognize the significant role agriculture plays in Canada’s economy, environment, and social spheres. Canadian farmers and ranchers produce some of the safest, highest quality and sustainable food in the world. Our farm members’ contributions to Canada’s food supply are more important than ever.

There are many fun and creative ways to celebrate this day. Check out the AgricultureMoreThanEver.ca website for many great ideas, social media posts and recipes.

According to CFIB research, agri-businesses say rising input costs (90%), supply chain challenges (76%), increasing costs from the government (70%), and labour shortages (55%) are the most significant issues for their business heading into 2022. Many farmers have had a very challenging growing season with droughts, floods, and market interruptions in many areas of the country.

In addition, an important part of the economy and partners in the agri-food chain, our restaurants and hospitality sector have faced almost two years of crippling public health restrictions as our country deals with the impact of the pandemic. These customerfacing small businesses are under massive financial stress and are just starting the long journey to recovery.

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As for our farming community and those who produce the food we enjoy every day – let’s celebrate the important role they play in feeding Canadians and the world. Their resiliency and adaptability throughout the pandemic have been inspiring.

As I write this, the tone and messaging from public health officials and governments are starting to change around the effectiveness of lockdowns and business restrictions. Many provinces have or are making plans to lift capacity restrictions and vaccine mandates. These are promising first steps in the economic recovery for many small businesses. However, lifting these restrictions that many business owners have endured over the course of the pandemic is only the first step.

Messaging from these same officials needs to shift drastically to inspire consumer confidence. We must encourage consumers to get back to dining, go to the gym and travel as it becomes safe to do so.

CFIB’s research indicates that on average small business owners incurred almost $170,000 in debt as a result of Covid-19. Our Businesses at Risk data reveals that 28 per cent of Canadian small businesses in the hospitality sector are actively considering bankruptcy or winding down their business as a result of Covid-19. These small businesses need us now more than ever, so I can’t think of a better time than now to encourage all Canadians to support local.

Despite the many challenges I listed above, survey feedback from our agri-business members is one of hope for the future of their business. 53 per cent of agri-business owners are hopeful or very hopeful about the future of their business. About a quarter of agribusinesses are discouraged which is not surprising given the challenging growing season many have experienced, while 16 per cent are neither hopeful nor discouraged.

It will be a long road to recovery for many businesses across the country. Let’s all take a moment on February 22nd to be thankful to the farmers and all those in the agri-food sector who have kept rolling and kept the grocery store shelves stocked throughout the past two years. Visit and support a local small business. Dine-in a local restaurant and raise a glass (or a fork!) to the many courageous business owners and farmers across the country.

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK! Share your feedback with CFIB by contacting our Business Help Line at cfib@cfib.ca or call 1-888-2342232.

Not a member? JOIN CFIB today for more help and information.

Visit https://agriculturemorethanever.ca/cdn-agday/ to learn more about Canada’s Agriculture Day. Online at cfib@cfib.ca or call 1-888-234-2232.

Virginia Labbie is the Senior Policy Analyst, Agri-business for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). CFIB is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 95,000 members (6,000 agribusiness members) across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.

Success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.

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September/October 2018

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