NSF INTERNATIONAL FOCUSES ON CANADIAN FOOD INDUSTRY WITH NEW WEBSITE FOR SERVICES IN CANADA

• Forage for climate action – Can grazing perennial forages improve environmental sustainability and animal health? Project Lead: Dr. Poudel, Agriculture & Agri- Food Canada, Lethbridge

PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER THE 2022/2023

BCRC CALL INCLUDE:

• The known unknowns – Pulling back the cover on macrolide resistance in feedlots. Project Lead: Dr. Ruzzini, University of Saskatchewan

NSF International in Canada recently launched a new website - www.nsfcanada.ca - to give Canada’s growing and complex food and beverage industry easy access to the global public health organization’s expertise and services in Canada. The website combines information on the depth, experience and capabilities of the NSF International Canadian office with access to NSF International’s global services dedicated to food safety and quality.

• Does supplementing pregnant cows with protein during winter grazing improve calf health? Project Lead: Dr. Malmuthuge, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge

• Can genomic tests identify the infectious causes of reproductive losses better than traditional diagnostics? Project Lead: Dr. Huang, Prairie Diagnostic Services Inc.

Evolving regulations across countries and increasing complexities associated with a globalized food supply network present challenges for NSF International clients in Canada and around the world. The new Canadian website offers expertise and services to help companies navigate these challenges, including certification and auditing, consulting, technical services, training and education, food and label compliance, packaging, and product and process development.

• Boosting calf immunity with early-life management. Project Leads: Dr. Malmuthuge, Agriculture & Agri- Food Canada, Lethbridge and Dr. Erickson, University of Saskatchewan

NSF International’s Canadian website provides information on the following services:

• Turning lemons into lemonade and cattle hide into snacks. Project Leads: Dr. Bruce and Dr. Roy, University of Alberta

• Cracking the code on early life management of crossbred dairy-beef calves. Project Lead: Dr. Steele, University of Guelph

Certification & auditing: Third-party food safety audits and certifications, which are integral components of supplier selection and regulatory compliance. Accurate audits are the first step toward successful verification of a company’s food safety system, providing improved brand protection and customer confidence. Certifications and audits are available for animal and produce in the agriculture industry, GFSI certification and management system registration.

• Can natural malate production in forages reduce methane emissions in grazing cattle? Project Lead: Dr. Block, Agriculture & Agri- Food Canada, Lacombe

• Burn baby burn – Can prescribed fire be a tool for pasture rejuvenation and improved soil health? Project Lead: Dr. Bainard, Agriculture & Agri- Food Canada, Agassiz

Consulting: A full-service team approach providing technical resources, expertise and insight for a wide range of food safety and quality services. NSF International provides finished product inspection testing for food, packaging and non-food testing for rapid analysis and insight to protect the brand, technical support services from on-site temporary or permanent technical staffing placements, and various types of consulting.

Technical services: A one-stop solution for food product compliance and formulation, from concept to finished product, including food and label compliance, packaging, product and process development, and shelf-life and product evaluation.

• Maximizing pasture’s grazing potential by sod-seeding alfalfa mixes. Project Lead: Dr. Lardner, University of Saskatchewan

Training and education: Training for the global food and beverage industry across the supply chain as an

• Understanding rest-recovery and grazing management for native prairie to improve grassland and animal productivity. Project Lead: Dr. Kelln, University of Saskatchewan

Global public health organization showcases services for Canada’s growing and fast-changing food industry accredited International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) site. Topics include HACCP, food safety and quality, GFSI benchmarked standards, regulations (including FSMA), food science, food packaging, food microbiology and ISO standards. Training modalities include eLearning, on-site, customized and open enrolment. Additionally, the website includes information about management system registrations for the food, automotive, environmental, information security, medical devices, aerospace and chemical industries, as well as for Ontario drinking water programs.

The BCRC is Canada’s national industry-led funding agency for beef, cattle and forage research. The BCRC’s mandate is to determine research and development priorities for the Canadian beef cattle industry and to administer Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off funds allocated to research. A division of the Canadian Cattle Association, the BCRC is directed by a committee of 15 beef producers from across the country. The BCRC is funded in part through a portion of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off which is then leveraged with government and industry partner funding. For more information, visit https://www.beefresearch.ca/ https://www.yesgroup.

Visit the new Canadian website at www.nsfcanada.ca to review the food safety services capabilities video, find a list of Canadian food experts, learn about upcoming events and global news releases, submit a question or read an FAQ.

WHAT WE HEARD REPORT: AGRICULTURAL LABOUR STRATEGY

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture and its partners

The Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council (CAHRC) and Food and Beverage Canada (FBC) are pleased to see Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) What We Heard Report, which details feedback received by the Department during consultations on the development of a National Agricultural Labour Strategy. Work on this strategy is a key item in the Mandate Letter of the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

As part of AAFC’s consultation process, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), and Food and Beverage Canada (FBC-ABC) provided an interim report on the development of an industryled National Workforce Strategic Framework for Agriculture and Food & Beverage Manufacturing. This interim report included the signatures of 34 industry organizations as well. The input from this is wellreflected in the What We Heard Report, demonstrating the collaboration between the two initiatives.

We appreciate the commitment to collaborative and sustained engagement from AAFC and the Minister that will ensure both strategies remain aligned on wanting to take complementary and collaborative action on short, medium and long-term solutions to address labour shortages and systemic workforce challenges.

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), and Food and Beverage Canada (FBC-ABC) have been championing development of an industryled National Workforce Strategic Framework for Agriculture and Food & Beverage Manufacturing since 2021, with funding from the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Centre. To date there have been more than 100 industry participants involved in this work through advisory committees, working groups and broader engagement. The National Workforce Strategic Plan seeks to complement the efforts of the Government of Canada, including the development of a National Agricultural Labour Strategy.

About The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council

The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council works with industry leaders, governments and educational stakeholders to research, develop and communicate solutions to the challenges in employment and skills development in primary agriculture.

About The Canadian Federation Of Agriculture

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) was formed in 1935 as a unified voice to speak on behalf of Canadian farmers. CFA’s work continues today as a farmer-funded, national umbrella organization comprising of provincial general farm organizations and national and interprovincial commodity groups, representing producers of all commodities, who operate farms of all sizes. Through its members, CFA represents approximately 190,000 Canadian farm families from coast to coast to coast. CFA promotes the interests of Canadian agriculture producers to ensure the continued development of a trusted, sustainable, and vibrant agriculture sector in Canada.

About Food And Beverage Canada

Food and Beverage Canada (FBC-ABC) is the national industry association representing Canada’s domestic food and beverage manufacturers. Its members include Canada’s provincial and regional food and beverage manufacturing associations as well as leading Canadian food and beverage companies. FBC-ABC advances a competitive business environment that enables growth and sustainability through knowledge sharing, consultation, business-led solutions and proactive advocacy. Across Canada there are almost 8,000 food and beverage manufacturing establishments employing almost 300,000 workers.

MPO CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF ONTARIO’S FINEST BUTCHERS

Ontario’s Finest Butcher Competition, a prestigious event that has elevated the art of butchery and showcased the remarkable skills of Ontario’s artisans, is proudly celebrating its 10th anniversary. This milestone event honours the craftsmanship, innovation, and local food culture that make Ontario’s Finest Butcher Competition truly exceptional.

Franco Naccarato, Executive Director of Meat & Poultry Ontario (MPO), expressed his excitement and gratitude for this significant achievement, saying, "Over the past decade, Ontario’s Finest Butcher Competition has become a symbol of excellence in the industry. It has been a privilege to witness the dedication and talent of our local butchers, and we are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with them."

A vital element in the success of the competition has been the unwavering support of Halenda’s Meats, Mississauga, as the host of the elimination round. Their commitment has made the competition an unforgettable experience for competitors and spectators alike.

In 2023, Ontario’s Finest Butcher Competition is set to embark on an exciting new chapter, promising more thrills and accessibility for all. The elimination round has found a new home at Handtmann Canada in Waterloo, introducing fresh competition rules including; competitors will now be tested on their core competencies, the addition of veal as a protein option in the elimination round, and the finale has been extended to 45 minutes allowing our talented butchers more room to showcase their creativity and expertise. The prizing package for finalists and winners has been enhanced to offer unparalleled rewards.

Franco Naccarato emphasized the significance of these changes, stating, "The 2023 edition of Ontario’s Finest Butcher Competition marks a turning point in our journey. We are excited to introduce new elements that will challenge our participants and captivate our audience. It’s an opportunity for our butchers to truly shine and push the boundaries of their craft."

Registration for Ontario’s Finest Butcher Competition is now open. The Elimination Round will take place on Monday, September 11 at Handtmann Canada, where competitors will showcase their technical knowledge and knife skills. The top three contenders will advance to the finals, which will be held on October 21 at the Meating Place Conference in Muskoka, in front of a live audience. The winner will be announced on October 21 at the highly anticipated Meat & Poultry Ontario’s Red Carpet Gala.

For more information and to register, visit www. meatpoultryon.ca or contact technical@meatpoutlryon.ca

Follow us on Instagram @ontariomeatpoultry for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive highlights of the competition.

About Mpo

Meat & Poultry Ontario (MPO) is the representative voice of Ontario’s meat industry. Our members are independent businesses proud to serve the communities they live and work in. The association is comprised of meat and poultry processors, wholesalers, and retailers; industry suppliers; and not-for profit organizations that support MPO’s objectives.

Ontario’s meat and poultry sector employs 25% of Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry — the single largest manufacturing employer in Ontario — and generates $11.2 billion of the province’s $45 billion food and beverage processing industry revenue.

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