Our July issue

THE BEEF, PORK & POULTRY INDUSTRY DIGITAL MAGAZINE

July 2021

GRSB LAUNCHES GLOBAL BEEF SUSTAINABILITY GOALS “Made in USA” Labeling Rule Paves Way for Better Consumer Protections Beef Cattle Research Council: Beef Cattle and The Carbon Cycle Canadian Government Announces Support for Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiatives Ready-to-Eat Meat Products Market Continues to Grow All Businesses Deserve Reliable High-speed Internet

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FCC: Farm Debt Under Control, Watch for Higher Interest Rates

Ready-to-Eat Meat Products Market Continues to Grow

GRSB Launches Global Beef Sustainability Goals

Beef Cattle Research Council: Beef Cattle and The Carbon Cycle

“Made in USA” Labeling Rule Paves Way for Better Consumer Protections U.S. Ranchers Building New Beef Plants

Canadian Government Announces Support for Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiatives

Wendy’s Becomes Fast Food Leader in Reducing Antibiotic Resistance Risk USDA Invests $55.2 million in Grants for Meat and Poultry Inspection Operations

All Businesses Deserve Reliable High-speed Internet

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THE BEEF, PORK & POULTRY INDUSTRY DIGITAL MAGAZINE

July 2021 Volume 21 Number 7

PUBLISHER Ray Blumenfeld ray@meatbusiness.ca MANAGING EDITOR Scott Taylor publishing@meatbusiness.ca DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR Cam Patterson cam@meatbusiness.ca CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jonathon Alward, Tom Polansek, Cam Patterson, Jack Roberts CREATIVE DIRECTOR Patrick Cairns

Meat Business Pro is published 12 times a year by We Communications West Inc.

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The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means in whole or in part, without prior written consent from the publisher.

Printed in Canada. ISSN 1715-6726

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FCC: FARM DEBT UNDER CONTROL, WATCH FOR HIGHER INTEREST RATES The potential for higher interest rates is the darkest cloud shading recent news that farm debt in Canada recorded the smallest increase in six years, according to Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) chief economist.

Statistics Canada data showed outstanding Canadian farm debt increased by 5.9% to $121.9 billion as producers invested in land, buildings and equipment. However, this was the smallest increase since 2014 and below the 10-year average of 6.5%.

Farm cash receipts climbed 8.3%.

“These are positive signs the overall financial picture of Canadian agriculture improved in 2020,” said J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief economist. “We are now projecting record high farm revenue in 2021, outpacing expected growth in farm debt outstanding of around six per cent.”

Gervais said it’s important to recognize revenue growth hasn’t been consistent across all sectors and regions of Canadian agriculture. Total livestock revenue, for example, decreased nearly 1% in 2020, largely due to COVID-19 disruptions induced by temporary shutdowns of processing plants and closure of the food service sector.

He also noted a sharp and sudden rise in interest rates could have a significant impact on the ability of farm operations to service debt. Driving factors of net farm income, such as trade, weather conditions and high farm input costs, could also impact farm revenue and debt forecasts.

“With the level of debt in the farm economy, producers must be aware of the potential for higher interest rates and factor that into their risk management plans,” Gervais said. “Higher interest rates affect your working capital and your ability to service debt obligations. While current low short-term rates are attractive, it may be appealing to lock in long-term rates at the current low levels.”

There’s still much uncertainty around the permanent nature of current inflationary pressures, according to Gervais.

“On the one hand, current supply chain bottlenecks and strong consumer spending causing inflation could subside in the second half of 2021,” he said. “On the other hand, accumulated savings in the economy could further increase consumer spending and unleash permanent price increases that warrant higher interest rates.”

Demand for agriculture commodities and food is strong and inventories are generally lower than their long-term average. This generates a positive outlook for the industry coming out of the pandemic. But there are no guarantees the high prices recorded in many sectors won’t return to normal levels, he cautions.

“The overall balance sheet for Canadian agriculture remains healthy, despite the current uncertain times,” Gervais said. “But producers need to understand their financial situation and build resilience into their business plans so they can thrive in this dynamic operating environment.”

Learn more about Canadian farm debt and revenue, as well as the impact of higher interest rates by visiting FCC Economics.

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GRSB LAUNCHES GLOBAL BEEF SUSTAINABILITY GOALS The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) has announced the launch of its global sustainability goals – commitments to advance and improve the sustainability of the global beef value chain.

implement and incentivize climate smart beef production, processing, and trade, while safeguarding and building upon the carbon stores in soil and landscapes.

Established by GRSB, the goals will be led and implemented by members of the Roundtable.

Reducing atmospheric greenhouse gases requires both emissions reduction and carbon sequestration, making agriculture a key player in positively sequestering carbon in soils – the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that grasslands alone could sequester 54 to 216 million tonnes of carbon annually by 2030. Many GRSB members, including all processers and major retailers and several producer organizations, have already set goals that align with the broader GRSB goal.

One of the biggest challenges facing the world today is climate change and the global beef industry has a key role to play in mitigating it. Through its worldwide network of members, GRSB intends to power progress in sustainable beef by setting ambitious goals around reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving land use, and enhancing best practices in animal welfare.

The three key areas of focus outlined in these goals have been carefully identified to reflect priority areas for advancement and improvement. GRSB’s mission is to ensure that beef maintains a sustainable global supply chain and solidifies its role as part of a sustainable food system.

1. CLIMATE: REDUCING GLOBAL WARMING IMPACT ON A PATHWAY TO CLIMATE NEUTRALITY GRSB aims to globally reducing by 30% the net global warming impact of each unit of beef by 2030, on a pathway to climate neutrality. In order to support the urgent global ambition of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees by 2030, GRSB members will

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It is widely recognized that scientific developments will play a huge factor across each goal, hence the investment in research and development. GRSB’s members will encourage adoption of science-based land management practices that will maintain healthier soils, generate additional carbon sequestration, promote efficient water use, and increase biodiversity – protecting flora and fauna.

3. ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE: PROVIDING CATTLE WITH A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE

Roundtable members are also committing to investing in research and development of climate smart practices, tools, and knowledge. Investment has already been made in areas including detailed analysis of carbon sequestration – members will now look beyond how to manage carbon sequestration and how it can be more effectively measured on an ongoing basis.

2. LAND USE: ENSURING THE BEEF VALUE CHAIN IS A NET POSITIVE CONTRIBUTOR By 2030, GRSB and its members will ensure the beef value chain is a net positive contributor to nature. The Roundtable’s belief is that sustainable beef production can and should have a net positive impact on nature. In order to achieve this goal, GRSB will work with national and regional roundtables to establish measurement metrics to effectively measure, track, report, and verify progress.

Sustainable beef means providing cattle with an environment in which they can thrive – health and welfare are the major contributors to doing so. GRSB members will focus their efforts on continuing to improve the quality of life for cattle, achieved through increased adoption of best practices in disease prevention, treatment measures, cattle handling, and appropriate genetics.

Roundtable members will work together, and alongside beef farmers and ranchers, to encourage continuous learning and adoption of best practices across the beef supply chain that will improve welfare, and increase the ability of cattle to thrive in accordance with the World Organization for Animal Health. Increasing training opportunities by 25% based on 2020 levels will help ensure responsible practices, such as ensuring comfort, allowing animals to express normal patterns of behaviour, and pain mitigation, are implemented.

Many producers and farmers are already net positive contributors to nature. GRSB members will finance, source, develop, support, and share practices throughout the entire value chain that are designed to sustain and restore grazing lands, enhance resilience, conserve forests, grasslands, and native vegetation, increase biodiversity, and help reverse ecological decline.

GRSB is working with its members and key stakeholders to eliminate illegal deforestation and illegal conversion as a priority. Beef farmers and ranchers will have access to greater financing from members within the Roundtable and recognition where no contribution to additional deforestation is made.

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for beef to be more environmentally sound, more socially responsible, and more economically viable.

“The goals which we have launched today are a commitment from the global beef industry, articulating the role and responsibility that we are taking together towards achieving a more sustainable ecosystem.

“Our goals are ambitious, and we may not yet have all the solutions to achieve them. By focusing our efforts, we aim to inspire research and investment in science and innovation that will unlock their potential impact.”

GRSB members will develop or adopt practical tracking of the effectiveness of the training, while continuing to focus their efforts on minimizing morbidity and mortality with measurable improvements for each.

All value chain partners, from farm to plate, will be encouraged to support and invest in the continuous improvement of cattle’s health and wellbeing.

Ruaraidh Petre, Executive Director of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, said: “The world relies on beef and the industry relies on a healthy world to produce it. That’s why there is growing momentum in the industry to protect and nurture the earth’s natural resources.

“The conversation around beef sustainability is more important now than ever, and we recognize the need

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Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, fourth generation rancher and Director at The Calgary Stampede, said: “Beef is not only part of a vital food system, but a hundred-billiondollar industry that supports farmers, ranchers, families and communities in almost every country all around the world.

“Much is already being done to preserve grasslands, adopt regenerative practices, protect forests, enhance carbon sequestration, and optimize resources, but there is strong recognition of the need and opportunity to do more.”

The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef is a worldwide network of the people and organizations powering progress in sustainable beef. For more information, visit www.grsbeeg.org

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“MADE IN USA” LABELING RULE PAVES WAY FOR BETTER CONSUMER PROTECTIONS USDA Pledges to Address Confusing Standards that Allow “Product of USA” Claims on Beef and Pork Imported from Abroad The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized a rule codifying standards for when produce manufacturers may label products “Made in the United States.” FTC policy has long required that “Made in USA” type claims only apply when “all or virtually all” of the product is made in the United States. With this rule, FTC can more easily pursue civil penalties against companies that violate the standards.

For its part, USDA issued a statement announcing “a top-to-bottom review of the ‘Product of USA’ label.” Secretary Vilsack acknowledged “concern that the voluntary ‘Product of USA’ label may confuse consumers,” but stopped short of committing to any specific reform to the label standards, such as a requirement it only apply to meat from animals born, raised, and slaughtered in the U.S. “The FTC’s rule will help to protect consumers against deceptive marketing tactics that attempt to portray goods largely produced outside the country as American origin,” said Thomas Gremillion, Director of Food Policy at Consumer Federation of America.

“Unfortunately, consumers will still have to grapple with unscrupulous origin claims on beef and pork harvested from animals of foreign origin.”

born, raised, and slaughtered. However, Congress repealed those requirements after Canada and Mexico successfully challenged the policy in the World Trade Organization.

“Thanks to an unaccountable, unelected international tribunal, federal policymakers have abandoned mandatory origin labeling on beef and pork,” said Gremillion. “But the WTO’s decision offers no excuse for failing to protect consumers from deceptive practices, or for neglecting to put in place standards for producers that voluntarily choose to label their products as U.S. origin. Consumers strongly support origin rules; in a 2017 poll commissioned by CFA, 89% of a representative sample of 1000 adult Americans favored, either strongly or somewhat, requiring food sellers to indicate on the package label the country of origin of fresh meat they sell. USDA has the authority – and indeed the duty – to protect consumers from deceptive and misleading claims, including ‘product of USA’ claims on meat from animals that are not born, raised, and slaughtered in the USA.”

The Consumer Federation of America is a national organization of more than 250 nonprofit consumer groups that was founded in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education.

Under current USDA rules, meat processed from a carcass shipped into the country from abroad may carry a “Product of USA” label. The same goes for meat from animals born and raised in Mexico or Canada, and transported into the U.S. for slaughter. This was not always the case. Prior to 2015, USDA required countryof-origin labeling for fresh beef and pork products, specifically labels indicating where the cow or pig was

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THE BEST DEFENSE IS A STRONG OFFENSE PROMOTING THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF MEAT AND POULTRY

By Ronnie P. Cons

Red meat is often wrongly portrayed as being unhealthy. Even chicken has been getting attacked by some in the media as unhealthy or not environmentally friendly.

Vegan, fish and other non-meat diets have been proposed as liver, 625 grams of cooked beef or an astounding 2.4 kg of spinach. healthier alternatives. The result of this onslaught of negative meat messages has influenced many families to cut back on Iron found in vegetables is harder to absorb than the iron their meat and poultry purchases. Perceptions may reality but found in meat as it is attached to fibre which inhibits its truth trumps misinformation. Parents and other consumers absorption. want what is best for their health and that of their families.

2. Eat Meat for a Healthier Brain!

They are also aware that a lot of false information is out there Being deficient in the micronutrients found in meat have been and as such, are open to scientific facts that can By correct Tom their Polansek, Reuters linked with low IQ, autism, depression and dementia says misconceptions.

Dr. Charlotte Neumann, a paediatrician at the U.S. cattle ranchers and investors are sinking hundreds Smaller startup meat plants are aiming toUniversity provide of This provides an opportunity for retail meat departments California, as quoted in the article ‘Brain food- clever eating’. of millions of dollars into new beef plants after local ranchers with more places to slaughter cattle, to implement an instore ‘Healthy Meat Facts’ nutritional temporary closures of massive slaughterhouses at particularly those raised to produce higher-quality Zinc is crucial for learning and memory. Vitamin B12 campaign to set the record straight and convince their preserves sheaths protect the start ofthat themeat COVID-19 pandemic left farmers beef. Theythesay addingthat plants cannerves. ensure some meat customers and poultry are actually good forwith one’s health andto that theyanimals should increase decrease nowhere send destinedrather to bethan turned into production continues large facilities close.

3.

Boost Your Immunityifwith Meat! their purchases of it. The campaign outlined below can have Due to its antioxidant powers, zinc is involved in creating meat. a direct impact on sales: antibodies to meat fight free radicals thatmeat increase our risk for When large plants close, supplies tighten chronic diseases.

Start by displaying instore posters promoting the nutritional A cyberattack against the U.S. unit of Brazilian while ranchers get stuck with cattle that would value of meat. giant They should be innovative, eye catching and 4.

Power Your Muscle with Meat! meatpacking JBS SA that idled nearly a quarter otherwise have been Growth slaughtered.

That means the be designed to specifically contradict any meat myths. The The protein in meat helps build and repair of America’s beef production in June highlighted price of cattle generally falls, while thebody pricetissues. of meat in comments should all be literature based quoting research Muscles are made of protein.

That is why athletes who are vulnerabilities in the country’s meat supply chain and supermarkets rises. papers or MDs for maximum effect. Various posters should building muscle strength increase their meat consumption. caused headaches be mademore - each with a brieffor butfarmers. powerful message covering The protein and zinc found in meat are important for muscle one theme.

Extended shutdowns of some of the biggest U.S. growth and repair.

Ranchers, well asthe the U.S. Agriculture Department slaughterhouses due to COVID-19 outbreaks hobbled Posters canasconvey following healthy meat fact Meat is the Complete Protein! messages: (USDA), say the sector is too consolidated and therefore 5. meat production in spring 2020, leading to limits on Meat contains all of the nine essential amino acids that your reliant on a handful of large processors and their consumers' purchases at grocery stores and a decline in 1. Let’s IRON out the Truth on Meat! body cannot make by itself. Say ‘hello’ to histidine, leucine, industrial frozen inventories that processors have yet to replenish.

“You wouldmeatpacking need to eat a plants. massive amount of spinach to isoleucine, lycine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, equal (the iron content) in a steak,” says Christopher Golden, threonine, and valine. That is why meat is called a complete an ecologist and epidemiologist Harvard University protein.

Four industry behemoths - JBSatUSA, Tyson Foods in Rusty Kemp saw the need for more processing capacity Cambridge, Massachusetts. (As quoted by nature.com in the Inc., Cargill Inc. and National Beef Packing Company after 2019for fire at a Tyson Foods plant in Holcomb, 6.

EataMeat a Healthy Heart! article ‘Brain food- clever eating’.)

- slaughter 85% of grain-fattened cattle carved into Kansas, left meat buyers scrambling for supplies Meat contains lots of the B vitamins needed for the and For a woman to receive production of hormones, red bloodto cells for cattle. the proper steaks, ribs and roasts her for recommended consumers. daily intake of 18 cattle producers with nowhere selland their Then, mg of iron, she would need just 300 grams of cooked bovine functioning of your system.attack on JBS hit. the pandemic andnervous ransomware

U.S. RANCHERS BUILDING NEW BEEF PLANTS

Say ‘hello’ to niacin, folic acid, thiamine, biotin, panthothenic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6. They are all found in meat.

The line that ‘the best defense is a good offense’ does not only apply to sports. It also applies to countering negative meat health myths. Implementing an instore ‘Healthy Meat Facts’ nutritional campaign to set the record straight on meat and poultry. It is a good way to go on the offensive by using education your customers and increasing your sales..

Ronnie P. Cons is CEO of C&C Packing Inc., a leading Canadian distributor of meat and poultry. He can be reached at RCons@CCpacking.com.

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Kemp is now planning to break ground on a $300 million beef plant in Nebraska this fall.

"We thought the Holcomb fire was an absolute train wreck and then COVID came along and Holcomb didn't seem that bad," he said.

Kemp's plant, named Sustainable Beef, will kill 1,500 cattle a day and use blockchain technology so consumers can track a piece of meat all the way back to the ranch, he said.

Sustainable Beef is co-owned by cattle producers who will provide animals for slaughter to the plant, instead of to major packers, Kemp said. He hired former executives of one of the biggest processors, Cargill, as consultants because of their expertise.

But Kemp said he is not trying to pick a fight with the four major processors and that bigger plants are still needed to produce large volumes of meat.

"We absolutely need more capacity and more players," Kemp said.

VEMAG

REPLACEMENT PARTS

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MORE ROOM TO SLAUGHTER Nationwide, at least five new processing facilities of varying sizes have opened or are planned following supply shocks early in the pandemic. Combined with expansions at existing plants, including one owned by JBS, daily U.S. slaughter capacity is set to increase by about 5%, according to a Reuters calculation and data from industry group the North American Meat Institute.

Market conditions are favorable for new entrants. Cattle supplies are ample, while beef prices and profit margins for packers have soared due to strong exports and demand from U.S. consumers.

In Butler, Missouri, Todd Hertzog and his family opened Hertzog Meat Company in June after considering the project for five years.

Though the $3.75 million plant is only slaughtering about 20 cattle a day, it serves nearby ranchers who want to produce higher-quality beef, said Hertzog, who manages the operation.

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"It added stability to our local communities and our rural areas," Chinn said. "They didn't have to depend on one local source to get their food."

SMALLER PLANTS, SAME PROBLEMS Small facilities are finding they face some of the same challenges as larger outfits, notably a labor shortage, without the benefit of a big corporation behind them.

After opening in March, Missouri Prime Beef Packers struggled to find workers for a plant in Pleasant Hope, Missouri, that now kills about 200 cattle a day, despite putting ads in newspapers and on radio, said Dallen Davies, director of company culture.

"The pandemic opened our eyes to the needs of local producers," he said.

Production disruptions during the pandemic pushed Cliff Welch to begin construction on a meat processing plant near Central City, Kentucky, at a price tag of more than $1.2 million. The cyberattack on JBS then reinforced Welch's decision to build the facility, slated to open in late 2021, he said.

Welch aims to slaughter 75 cattle a week to start, with the capability to eventually kill 300 head a week. He said he will produce custom cuts of meat using "oldstyle butchery" and plans to sell it locally.

"I'm starting from ground zero," Welch said. "It's a big undertaking."

Welch said he received a $250,000 grant from Kentucky for the project.

The U.S. Agriculture Department has pledged to support increased processing as part of a $4 billion initiative to strengthen the country's food system.

"The hope would be that by spreading out, by creating diversity in size and diversity of ownership and diversity of operations, we create greater resilience," USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters after the JBS attack.

The facility is slaughtering cattle raised under special guidelines, such as being grass-fed or certified for humane handling, as a way to add value for ranchers and provide a better product for consumers, Davies said.

Plants need to differentiate themselves because they cannot compete with industry titans on volume or on low prices achieved with mass production lines.

Former President Donald Trump last year said he urged the Justice Department to look into allegations the meatpacking industry broke antitrust law because the price that slaughterhouses pay farmers for animals dropped even as meat prices climbed. U.S. governors and lawmakers are pushing the department to keep probing.

Those involved in slaughterhouse expansion say they still need to do something to give ranchers more options in the meantime.

“We really don’t want to wait around and see if the government is going to solve this problem,” Kemp said.

“We decided to take matters into our own hands and do this.”

Missouri last year paid about $17 million in grants to meat processors with fewer than 200 employees that wanted to expand or build new facilities, state agriculture director Chris Chinn said. The payments doubled the amount of red meat inspected by the state in a program sparked by the pandemic, she said.

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CANADIAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR INDIGENOUS FOOD AND AGRICULTURE INITIATIVES The month of June is dedicated to recognizing and honouring the achievements, history and rich cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The goals are to build a stronger and more inclusive agriculture sector that advances meaningful relationships with Indigenous Peoples and reduces barriers for under-represented groups.

Marc Miller, the Minister of Indigenous Services, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, has announced investments of over $4 million in 16 projects that will help support Indigenous food systems initiatives, provide equitable access to healthy food, and increase participation of under-represented groups in the agriculture and agrifood sector.

“Indigenous farmers, communities and agri-food entrepreneurs have a strong partner in the Government of Canada. We recognize all of you, as leaders, in building and growing opportunities – from farming, community gardens, traditional foods and agrientrepreneurs. Indigenous Peoples were the first agricultural innovators and have a unique connection to the land that continues today. Today's announcement will help ensure that Indigenous Peoples can continue to contribute to and share in Canada's economic and agricultural success”, stated Minister Miller.

RECIPIENTS INCLUDE: • 4-C Farms Limited Partnership, which received up to $954,000 to reintroduce grain farming as a viable business and career path and to finalize a business plan so that Cowessess First Nation can expand its farming operation to 2,000 acres;.

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• Xaxli'p First Nation, which received up to $88,000to prepare the community to engage in a number of agricultural activities by conducting a market study, a land capability assessment and an irrigation water source assessment; and • Bigstone Cree Nation, which will receive up to $131,000 to identify and plan agribusiness opportunities to participate and succeed in Alberta’s growing agribusiness sector.

Chief Cadmus Delorme, 4C Farms Ltd., said “Our long term goal for 4C Farms is to build a fleet of grain farming equipment to enable our Nation owned farm to occupy Nation owned land. After Chief Kwīwīzance (Cowessess) agreed to Treaty Four, Cowessess First Nation utilized the teachings and tools provided to support an agricultural existence. Overtime Cowessess members were great farmers then Canadian policy made it harder for Cowessess members to farm.

Today, we want to revive agriculture and enable our community and its citizens to benefit from the vast amount of arable acres Cowessess First Nation owns.

The assistance from AAFC has helped to support the reestablishment of agriculture on Cowessess First Nation. meatbusinesspro.com

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 associations wouldn’t have previously nominated anybody because there are farms Development here on PEI doing every Lyle Leo, many Economic Officer, bit as much as we are as to attain a Xaxli’p stated, “The Xaxli’p Agriculture high level of sustainability. Anyway, Community Readiness (ACR) project, funded we were very surprised when the PEI by the Indigenous Food our Cattleman’sAgriculture Association and nominated Systems Initiative through Agriculture and farm.

Agri-FoodCMB: Canada, will result in determining And then you were attending the key agricultural opportunities forinXaxli’p Canadian Beef conference Calgary on the sites of interest, and initial financial and you won. feasibilityDF: of Yeah! theseThat opportunities.

This project was a very nice moment is a steppingstone to business planning for us. But I don’t like to use the and infrastructure improvements.” 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 experience. As I said to CBC when they phoned me after the conference, I was just floored, really couldn’t believe it.

CMB: So now that you have been recognized, do you think that will draw more attention and garner more nominations out of Atlantic Canada going forward?

DF: Absolutely. We’ve gotten 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 These projects, announced through the recognition for choosing a farm from Indigenous Agriculture and Food Systems Prince Edward Island.

We are small Initiative and the AgriDiversity Program, players in the national beef industry build on previous federal support of $2.1 and I think it was a real credit to their million. This includes projects to support organization to recognize us. They Indigenous agriculture and food initiatives treated all the nominees royally and it undertaken theclass Indian wasby a real act.Agricultural It was a wonderful Program experience. of Ontario (IAPO), the Native

Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC), the Wikwemikong Development Commission, and the Northern Farm Training Institute (NFTI). meatbusiness.ca meatbusinesspro.com

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READY-TO-EAT MEAT PRODUCTS MARKET CONTINUES TO GROW Straits Research is a leading international market research organization, specializing in research, analytics, and advisory services along with providing business insights into a wide range of industries. The company recently added a new report on the Ready-to-Eat Meat Products Market (RTE) which is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.8% during the forecast period 2021 to 2026.

The ready-to-eat meat products market is segmented by type into beef burgers, pulled/shredded beef, breaded cutlets, breaded chicken nuggets, breaded chicken tenders, turkey/chicken and salmon burgers, pulled pork, breakfast sausage links, breakfast sausage patties, and hot dogs. The breaded chicken cutlets and nuggets are one of the fastest-growing segments in the global market.

The USDA is speculating that the demand for readyto-eat meat products would go north in the coming years due to various efforts made by the companies to improve the tastes and address the consumer preferences. Apart from this, changing lifestyles, rising demand for ready to eat food business, industrial meat processing equipment and ready-to-eat meat products with enhanced taste, and convenience of processed meat products are some of the major factors adding fuel to the market growth.

Globally, half of the population relies on meat for regular protein requirement, which is why, ready-to-eat meat products are becoming more popular among the consumers in developed and developing countries. As per the estimation of Statistics Canada, Canada spends about $12.7 billion USD every year on fresh, processed, and frozen meat products.

COVID-19 IMPACT COVID-19 has modified the way we function. Isolation and Stay-Put Orders have pushed the general populace to adopt a digitally-dependent lifestyle.

• The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the on market trade segment and Industry.

• Manufacturers are comprehending strategies to revive from the current situation by means of reshaping their sales channels as well as product innovation.

• The duration of the virus outbreak remains a key factor in assessing the overall impact of the pandemic.

However, the global ready-to-eat meat products and is expected to stabilize after 2021.

Meat is one of the major food products consumed in western countries - United States, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Colombia, Spain, food manufacturing company in Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Australia, Netherlands, Bolivia, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, industrial food processing equipment manufacturers in Austria, Switzerland and in the rest half of the world.

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As per the study, most of the young consumers spend their income on convenient ready-to-eat food products on top meat processing companies. In Europe, the majority of the population is between the age group of 18-35 years, which is a clear indicator of the increased demand for convenient food products.

READY-TO-EAT MEAT PRODUCTS SEGMENT RISING DUE TO TYPE AND LIFESTYLE On the other hand, hamburgers and hot dogs are popular among working professionals and the youth market in the U.S., Canada, and Germany. The market is majorly driven by the hectic lifestyle, increasing working women population, growing protein requirements, and easy availability of the products. In developed countries, hamburgers and hot dogs are available at a relatively lower prices, which has increased its demand across Europe and North America and open the way for industrial food processing equipment manufacturers. As per the food manufacturing company and Agriculture Organization, there are more hotdogs and burger outlets in the U.S. than in any other country in the world. The ready-to-eat meat products market is expected to grow steadily in these countries at a CAGR of 1.6% in the years to come.

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NORTH AMERICA AND FRANCE INCREASING DEMAND FOR READY-TO-EAT MEAT PRODUCTS In North American, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are some of the major consumers of meat. The U.S. is the leading consumer of ready-to-eat meat products followed by China and Brazil. In the last few years, the meat consumption has witnessed a significant surge on account of the advanced supply chain. As per the estimation of the U.S. Census Bureau, American sausage consumption rose to 246.81 million consumers as compared to 231.88 million consumers in 2016, further boosting the RTE meat products market by 4%.

For more information, visit https://straitsresearch.com/ report/ready-to-eat-meat-products-market/

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BEEF CATTLE RESEARCH COUNCIL: BEEF CATTLE AND THE CARBON CYCLE Carbon is a hot topic these days as we work to better understand the environmental implications of our activities. Terms like “carbon sequestration,” “climate change,” “carbon footprint,” and “greenhouse gas emissions” are often used in the news and on social media. What do these terms mean? What role does beef production play in the carbon cycle? How can carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions impact beef producers on their farms?

THE CARBON CYCLE Every living thing contains carbon and everything – including cattle and grasslands – are part of a carbon cycle. Carbon cycles are dynamic and vary around the world, by region, and even by farm, depending on different management practices.

Measuring emissions and sequestration in beef production depends on the type of life cycle analysis performed (i.e., birth-to-consumption vs. birth-toslaughter). When people attempt to compare carbon footprints that analyze different portions of the beef production life cycle – or entirely different industries – these comparisons can be inaccurate and even misleading.

Raising cattle can have both positive and negative impacts on the carbon cycle and different management practices can increase or decrease the sector’s carbon footprint.

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On one side of the equation, cattle emit greenhouse gases like enteric methane (CH4), a natural by-product of rumen fermentation. A management practice, such as including a feed additive like monensin, can help reduce enteric methane emissions while still enabling cattle to convert roughage into nutrient-rich beef.

Burning fossil fuels for feeding or forage operations is another example of emissions, this time carbon dioxide (CO2). Producers can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by implementing extended grazing to reduce reliance on daily feeding.

On the other side of the equation, perennial forages and grasslands – the foundation of the beef cow-calf sector – are a critically important part of the carbon cycle because of their sequestration potential in Canada and worldwide. Forages and grasslands capture carbon dioxide (CO2) during plant growth, and sequester carbon in underground roots. Grasslands store up to 30% of the world’s organic carbon, and perennial grasslands are particularly effective carbon sinks, storing up to 97% of their carbon belowground.

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CARBON SEQUESTRATION ON GRASSLANDS Carbon sequestration is a dynamic process. Plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere during photosynthesis for plant growth, release oxygen into the atmosphere, and sequester carbon underground within their root systems.

NEW SURREY SLAUGHTERHOUSE ‘WOULD OPEN DOOR’ TO NEW BEEF MARKETS

All plants, including trees and grasslands, sequester carbon, however not all carbon sinks are equal. In stable conditions, forests sequester more carbon in timber, leaves and needles, than grasslands can store above and below ground. However, when a forest fire Most of the carbon sequestered is typically contained occurs, much of this carbon is promptly released back in the top 15cm of the soil. Soil organic carbon can to the atmosphere during combustion. Fire suppression, also increase with grazing, particularly in the surface drought, and insect infestations put carbon sequestered (0-15cm) soil, with minimal changes below this depth. in forests at risk of release. In contrast, by storing Increased soil carbon may be caused by the ongoing Proposed 30,000-square-foot beef abattoir in Cloverdale would be B.C.’s largest such facility the majority of their carbon belowground where it is animal impact that is responsible for trampling litter By Amy Reid, Peace Arch News protected from fire, grasslands provide a more stable into soil, a grazing-induced plant response which causes so as toto not emit odours.additional And while there is an operational carbon sink. A federally licensed beef processing facility is in the works plants set down shallow roots following 6,000-square-foot abattoir on the property now, it’s can in Surrey, BC. grazing, as well as an increase in the growth of only process a limited number of cattle.

“There’s a new building coming forward, a new abattoir, I Annual crops sequester the least amount of carbon individual plant species with higher grazing tolerance.

Chris Les is general manager of Meadow Valley Meats, think that’s the French pronunciation of slaughterhouse,” underground. Annual cropping systems important the company behind the project. Meadow Valley Meats is said Councillor Mike Starchuk.

“Soare Surrey will have a seeking a Canadian Food Inspection Agency license for newer facility with a better capacity so people will have CARBON STORAGE AND for food and feed production, however compared the proposed abattoir, to become a federally registered the ability to not have to ship an animal to Alberta to have to native grasslands, annual cropland often provides LAND USE meat establishment and expand the PRACTICES operation. This would it processed. The applications have gone through the fewer ecosystem benefits, as reduced biodiversity, allow the meat products to be transported beyond B.C.’s Agricultural and such Food Sustainability Advisory Committee.” boundaries.land use change is the single largest reduced carbonThe storage, water Historical facility is decreased proposed on a soil 25-acre property within the “Our focus is on to bring acarbon, more efficient, sustainable Agricultural Land Reserve at 5175 184th St. The planned availability, and decreased soil porosity. disturbance oftrying grassland leading to an local product to the market, realizing we can do that now 30,000-square foot abattoir in Cloverdale would process up estimated global loss 30-50% grassland in a very limited sense,” saidof Les. “I cautionof people when carbon to 100 head of cattle per day. talking to them and they say,as ‘What a big plant, grassland that’s going to Scientists estimate thattobetween and 200 tonnes stores.

Practices such converting According a city report,50 that would make it larger than to go allow you to go mainstream.’ Well, yes, if you look any other is processing in B.C.. But it would still be of carbon per hectare storedfacility in Canada’s grasslands, cropland, draining wetlands, and construction such as in the context of B.C., but this is still a very niche plant small by industry standards, compared to the largest meat with an additional 3 to 12 tonnes of carbon per hectare urban development and transport lead and we’ll serve a niche industry for producers infrastructure, and for the processing plants in Alberta that process 3,000 heads of market.

It’s certainly not going to be a monstrosity of a plant stored in above-ground plant growth and plant litter. to carbon loss. cattle per day.

Continued on page 22 The proposed facility would be fully enclosed and designed

but it’ll be a big upgrade from the site currently.”

Continued on page 32

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rate of 190 kg of carbon per hectare per year.

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO INCREASE CARBON SEQUESTRATION

Farms that implement management practises that promote removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (through plant growth) and sequestering that carbon belowground (in the root system and soil) may be more resilient and adaptable to changing climatic conditions.

There are some on-farm practices that producers can implement to increase sequestration and stability:

Changes in carbon stocks occur in the short term and over a long period of time as well. For example, when a grassland is cultivated for annual cropping, there will be a rapid loss in carbon stocks during the first few years of cultivation, however carbon may continue to be lost from the system for several years after, eventually reaching an equilibrium at a much lower level. Beneficial land use practices, such as revegetating annual cropland to perennial forage or using livestock manure as a fertilizer can help rebuild carbon stocks, but it remains unclear as to whether the previous carbon stocks can be restored, and if so, how long it may take.

It’s estimated that Canada once had 61,500,000 hectares of natural grassland, of which approximately 1,540,000 hectares remain, primarily in smaller fragments. The conversion of natural grassland to annual cropland represents a loss of carbon stocks estimated between 20% and 60%. While grasslands sequester carbon and cycle other nutrients, these valuable landscapes also provide numerous ecological services including biodiversity conservation; habitat for wildlife, species at risk, and pollinators; flood mitigation; sediment trapping and buffering; water filtration and retention; and soil conservation. The conversion of grasslands to other land uses impacts carbon sequestration negatively, but also causes a loss of other ecological benefits.

• Avoid converting perennial grassland to annual cropland. After annual cropland is planted to perennial forage, revegetated land is slow to recovery and may not fully recover root mass and soil organic matter, even after 50 years.

• Converting annual cropland to perennial forage is a carbon storage opportunity, however data is unclear on how much carbon is sequestered over time.

However, in addition to carbon storage opportunities, converting annual cropland, particularly marginal land, to perennial forage does provide additional ecological benefits, including improved habitat and biodiversity, reduced soil erosion, and increased water retention.

• Canadian studies have shown that moderate grazing can increase soil carbon concentration, particularly in the top 15cm of the soil surface. Grazing appears to be more beneficial for soil carbon in moister grasslands than in dry areas. Moderate grazing can also enhance other ecological services, including plant diversity and forage production.

Left intact, Canadian grasslands can and have been building carbon stores. In a study that looked at carbon sequestration over an 80-year time frame, there was a general gain in net carbon on grazed pastures in the Great Plains, particularly in recent decades, and soil organic carbon increased during that time frame at a 22

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NSF INTERNATIONAL FOCUSES ON CANADIAN FOOD INDUSTRY WITH NEW WEBSITE FOR SERVICES IN CANADA • Native grassland plant species tend to have higher

root-to-shoot ratios than tame forages and tend Global health organization showcases services for Canada’s growing and fast-changing to have morepublic root mass belowground than tame food industry species. When revegetating annual cropland to perennial grassland, including native plant species may NSF International in Canada recently launched a new accredited International Association for Continuing be an effective way to increase-carbon storage. growing website - www.nsfcanada.ca to give Canada’s Education and Training (IACET) site. Topics include HACCP, and complex food and beverage industry easy access to undisturbed, the global public health organization’s expertise • Left wetlands typically store more and services in Canada.

The website combines information carbon than they release, resulting in net carbon on the depth, experience and capabilities of the NSF sequestration.

Wetland restoration can help re-establish International Canadian office with access to NSF ecological functions on these sites, and Canadian International’s global services dedicated to food safety studies have indicated that carbon sequestered on and quality. newly restored wetlands as well as older restored Evolving regulations across countries and increasing wetlands result in a net carbon benefit. complexities associated with a globalized food supply network present challenges for NSF International clients in FORWARD Canada and MOVING around the world.

The new Canadian website offers expertise and services to help companies navigate these including and auditing, There is achallenges, growing interest in certification trading carbon through consulting, technical services, training and education, credits or offsets. Pilot projects across Canada are being food and label compliance, packaging, and product and set up, including the Canada Grassland Project Protocol. process development.

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 systembeef registrations for the food,cycles, automotive, Tomanagement learn more about cattle and carbon visit environmental, information security, medical devices, http://www.beefresearch.ca/research-topic.cfm/theaerospace and chemical industries, as well as for Ontario carbon-cycle-beef-cattle-113 drinking water programs.

Visit the new Canadian website at www.nsfcanada.ca to review the food

Forsafety more information about Beef Cattle services capabilities video, find the a list of Canadian foodResearch experts, learn about upcoming events and global news releases, submit a question Council, visit www.BeefResearch.ca YesGroup_CanadianMeatBusiness-Qtr-pg.pdf 1 2014-05-16 1:20:17 PMor read an FAQ.

Led by the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association, International’s website provides this NSF project, which hasCanadian numerous provincial andinformation on the following services: national partners, will help producers determine how Certification & auditing: Third-party food safety audits much carbon they sequester in pastures and wetlands and certifications, which are integral components of under different management practices and production supplier selection and regulatory compliance. Accurate systems.

When carbon stores are better quantified on audits are the first step toward successful verification a farm-level, farmers may be system, able to providing establishimproved a value of a company’s food safety for the carbon they are sequestering and trade carbon brand protection and customer confidence. Certifications and audits are available for animal and produce in the offsets in the future. agriculture industry, GFSI certification and management registration.

Beefsystem production in Canada has a distinct carbon cycle A full-service team approach providing thatConsulting: includes inputs and outputs, and greenhouse technical resources, expertise and insight for a wide range gas emissions and carbon storage. While there of food safety and quality services.

NSF International are challenges that the sector must overcome, provides finished product inspection testing for food, including reducing emissions and meeting ambitious packaging and non-food testing for rapid analysis and industry-leading targets, theretechnical are alsosupport great services insight to protect the brand, opportunities. working from on-siteCanadian temporaryresearchers or permanentare technical staffing toward understanding practices that support carbon placements, and various types of consulting. sequestration and methane reduction in beef cattle Technical services: A one-stop solution for food product production.

At the time, from technology compliance and same formulation, conceptand to finished product,are including food and label compliance, packaging, innovation allowing producers to become more product and processbeef, development, shelf-life and efficient at producing and thereand is an opportunity product evaluation. to understand the incredible value that grasslands and Training and for education: Training for the global food forages present carbon sequestration.

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and beverage industry across the supply chain as an meatbusiness.ca

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WENDY’S BECOMES FAST FOOD LEADER IN REDUCING ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE RISK Wendy’s has updated its Antibiotic Use Policy with a firm commitment to end all routine use of medically important antibiotics in its U.S. and Canadian beef, pork, and chicken supply chains by 2030. This commitment moves the company swiftly from lagging behind McDonald’s to a fast-food leader in reducing antibiotic risk in beef and pork. This change comes after years of pressure from investors and public health advocates.

“We are thrilled that Wendy’s is publicly committing to take the actions necessary to reduce antibiotic risk in its meat supply chains,” said Christy Spees, environmental health program manager at As You Sow. “This leadership is critical for sending a clear message to producers that use of medically important antibiotics needs to end in order to prevent the next pandemic.”

As You Sow filed a shareholder resolution with Wendy’s in 2020, asking the company to report on its progress toward reducing medically important antibiotics in all of its meat supply chains. We withdrew the proposal when the company committed to increase its partnerships with beef suppliers working to reduce antibiotic use.

Significantly, and in great news for public health, this new commitment to actually end use of medically important antibiotics in beef and pork is far more ambitious.

“We are now calling on other fast food and restaurant companies to follow suit,” said Danielle Fugere, president of As You Sow. “It is no longer acceptable to call this problem insurmountable. We can and must change course to prevent the antibiotic resistance crisis from growing.”

The World Health Organization considers antibiotic resistance one of the biggest present threats to global health, food security, and development. Antibiotic resistant infections are already widespread across the globe. When antibiotics are no longer effective, common illnesses can become fatal. In the U.S., a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found more than 2.8 million antibioticresistant infections occur each year, resulting in more than 35,000 deaths. The estimated national cost of treating these infections is almost $5 billion annually.

Use of antibiotics in food animals is a significant contributor to this global problem. As You Sow has been engaging with companies along the meat supply chain for years, calling for urgent reductions in the use of antibiotics. Progress has been made in recent years in reducing antibiotics in chicken, but the beef and pork sectors have been slow to move.

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As You Sow is a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building, and innovative legal strategies. For more information visit https://www.asyousow.org/

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USDA INVESTS $55.2 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR MEAT AND POULTRY INSPECTION OPERATIONS The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $55.2 million in competitive grant funding available through the new Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program. The new program is funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

“We are building capacity and increasing economic opportunity for small and midsized meat and poultry processors and producers across the country.” Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “Through MPIRG, meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities can cover the costs for necessary improvements to achieve a Federal Grant of Inspection under the Federal Meat Inspection Act or the Poultry Products Inspection Act, or to operate under a state’s Cooperative Interstate Shipment program.”

USDA encourages grant applications that focus on improving meat and poultry slaughter and processing capacity and efficiency; developing new and expanding existing markets; increasing capacity and better meeting consumer and producer demand; maintaining strong inspection and food safety standards; obtaining a larger commercial presence; and increasing access to slaughter or processing facilities for smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged producers, and veteran producers.

territories. Whereas, MPIRG’s Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) Compliance project is only for processing facilities located in states with a Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) CIS program. These states currently include Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Applicants must be working toward CIS program compliance requirements to operate a state-inspected facility or make a good faith effort toward doing so.

Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, August 2, 2021. Any grant application submitted after the due date will not be considered unless the applicant provides documentation of an extenuating circumstance that prevented their timely submission of the grant application.

AMS offers webinars for applicants to help walk them through the Request for Application. Additionally, grants management specialists are standing by to answer any incoming questions and emails during regular business hours.

Eligible meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities include commercial businesses, cooperatives, and tribal enterprises.

MPIRG’s Planning for a Federal Grant of Inspection (PFGI) project is for processing facilities currently in operation and are working toward Federal inspection.

Applicants can be located anywhere in the states and

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For more information about grant eligibility and program requirements, visit the MPIRG webpage, or contact us at mpirg@usda.gov.

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ALL BUSINESSES DESERVE RELIABLE HIGH-SPEED INTERNET

By Jonathan Alward The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear businesses across Canada need access to high-speed internet to help with the challenges we face today and provide opportunities to grow our businesses tomorrow. It doesn’t matter where you live, your age, or what sector you work in, high-speed internet provides important opportunities to better connect us and help businesses operate more efficiently.

That’s why CFIB recently collaborated with TELUS to gather small businesses’ views on high-speed internet and released a new report: The small business vision of 5G connectivity in Canada.

5G connectivity – eliminating spotty service and network congestion – is especially important for businesses in many rural areas. Internet is often so inconsistent it is sometimes difficult to do simple everyday tasks. While others can join virtual tradeshows or quickly access the latest news and information, we have many rural members who can only join a Zoom meeting or CFIB webinar through a landline phone.

Inconsistent and slow internet holds back rural businesses that are key contributors to the Canadian economy. Improving connectivity through 5G is so important for future operations and the growth of our economy.

The same is true for agri-businesses, which rely more on mobile data outside the workplace than most other sectors, with a higher proportion saying mobile connectivity is important and 5G will help their business: • 93% of agri-businesses agree mobile connectivity is integral to their success over the next 3 years; • 89% of agri-businesses say mobile data outside a workplace setting is important; and • 66% of agri-businesses say 5G will benefit their business.

Rural businesses are more likely than businesses in urban areas to say they have a lot to gain through improved mobile connectivity: • 78% of rural businesses say faster internet will improve their productivity and efficiency; • 71% of rural businesses would benefit from increased access to rural customers from the internet; • 66% of rural businesses would benefit from 5G; and • 58% of rural businesses agree 5G would provide their business with new opportunities to grow.

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goal. For example, the latest Federal Budget includes another $1 billion dedicated to the Universal Broadband Fund to increase access to high-speed internet in rural and remote communities.

When you take a closer look, both higher speeds and more consistent internet access will spur innovation for many rural and farm businesses. Afterall, modern agriculture is a high-tech industry. Video calls don’t only help urban businesses. Customers can now shop anywhere – and should be able to shop just as seamlessly from rural and agricultural businesses.

This funding alone is not enough to achieve the goal for all rural and farm businesses, and these improvements can’t come soon enough. That is why CFIB recommends the federal government implement policies to ensure a competitive telecom industry can provide cost-effective digital connectivity to small business owners in all parts of Canada within five years. This must include helping inform businesses of the benefits of 5G, its applications, safety and security, including information on cybersecurity. Importantly, the federal government should also support small business digital adoption and advancement through innovation tax credits or programs that help small businesses get online.

For farmers especially, they need reliable cell service to improve safety for themselves and their staff. They need consistent high-speed service to help multi-task during long days, like marketing their products while on-the-go. New technology can help these high-tech businesses continue evolving to improve efficiency and maximize productivity. For instance, as one farmer said in response to the survey: “5G will make drones for soil sampling and autonomous equipment possible.”

There has never been a more important time for businesses across all sectors and corners of Canada to have access to reliable high-speed internet. With a federal election likely looming, there has also never been a better opportunity for governments to make meaningful commitments to help achieve this goal. It is critical for the success of country that the next federal government shares The small business vision of 5G connectivity in Canada.

Furthermore, we must ensure farmers are as competitive as possible so they can help lead Canada’s economic recovery. And while government policies around taxation and red tape reduction have important roles in fostering an environment where agri-businesses can compete globally, so too can government policies that support digital adoption and advancement. In fact, 61 per cent of agri-businesses believe significantly increasing the speed of wireless networks will help their business innovate. Forty per cent of these businesses also believe tax credits for innovation investments would help to this end.

It is important government policies get this right especially as federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments have begun consulting on the next Agricultural Policy Framework. The current $3 Billion Canadian Agricultural Partnership FPT agreement expires on March 31, 2023 and one of the key priorities growing forward should be to increase access to reliable, high speed internet in rural areas.

The good news is that governments across Canada are making meaningful investments to help achieve this meatbusinesspro.com

To learn more about CFIB’s recommendations to government and telecom operators to ensure Canada has affordable, accessible 5G internet across the country, visit cfib.ca and read CFIB’s full report, The small business vision of 5G connectivity in Canada.

Jonathan Alward is the Prairie Region Director 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 agri-business 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.

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