Our September Issue

THE BEEF, PORK & POULTRY INDUSTRY DIGITAL MAGAZINE

September 2021

CMC: RED MEAT SECTOR PRIORITIES Beef Demand Remains Strong Tough Immigration Conversations Needed to Help Keep Meat and Poultry on Grocery Store Shelves Government Increases Funding to Support Farmers Facing Extreme Weather Next Federal Government Must Deliver Policies to Fuel Agri-businesses and Help Small Business Recovery

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MEATBUSINESSPRO September 2021

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Beef Demand Remains Strong

CMC: Red Meat Sector Priorities

Pork Producers Share Election Priorities

Government Increases Funding to Support Farmers Facing Extreme Weather

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Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New Jefo Production Plant

Survey Results Point to Continued Support for Canadian Chicken Farmers

Tough Immigration Conversations Needed to Help Keep Meat and Poultry on Grocery Store Shelves Next Federal Government Must Deliver Policies to Fuel Agri-businesses and Help Small Business Recovery

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THE BEEF, PORK & POULTRY INDUSTRY DIGITAL MAGAZINE

September2021 Volume 21 Number 9

PUBLISHER Ray Blumenfeld ray@meatbusiness.ca MANAGING EDITOR Scott Taylor publishing@meatbusiness.ca DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR Cam Patterson cam@meatbusiness.ca

BEEF DEMAND REMAINS STRONG The impacts of drought 2021 on the retail price of beef is a topic of interest for media lately. A continued strong demand outlook in North America and internationally is expected to sustain higher prices going forward.

In June 2021, Canadian beef exports were 18% higher compared with June 2020 and 27% above the five-year average for June. Compared with last year, year-to-date (Jan-Jun) exports were up 27% in volume and 25% in value, according to Canfax.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jonathon Alward, Scott Taylor, Cam Patterson, Jack Roberts CREATIVE DIRECTOR Patrick Cairns

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Printed in Canada. ISSN 1715-6726

As Canada Beef President Michael Young told the CBC: "I don't see anything on the global horizon that's going to change demand. Demand will remain high.”

In terms of markets, June export volumes increased to the U.S. (16%), Japan (35%), Mexico (108%), mainland China (151%), SE Asia (425%), South Korea (87%), the EU (43%) and MENA (40%).

Beef imports were 17% lower in June 2021 than the year earlier period, and 8% lower from the five-year average for June. On a year-to-date basis (Jan-June), imports were down 12% in volume and 12% in value.

Domestically, Statistics Canada 2020 consumption data showed that while overall per capita consumption of red meat and poultry fell -4.5% to 73.3 kgs/person retail weight, beef consumption held its ground at +0.3% (18 kgs).

The strong demand outlook comes as beef producers across Canada manage through the impacts of drought and wildfires. Canada Beef’s thoughts are with affected producers at this time.

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CMC: RED MEAT SECTOR PRIORITIES The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) represents Canada’s federally licensed meat packers, meat processors and suppliers of equipment, services, and goods to the meat industry.

animal diseases (e.g.: African Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth disease) have pushed the limits of our industry’s resilience.

Red meat consumption and exports supported 288,000 jobs in Canada in 2016, generating more than $6 Billion in annual revenues. Meat processing is Canada's largest food and beverage manufacturing sector. In the past three years, CMC members have created close to 13,000 jobs.

Red meat consumption in Canada is likely to grow modestly over the long term, restrained by slow population growth, changing consumer preferences and an aging demographic. On the other hand, Canada’s export potential is vast. Global per capita consumption of meat is expected to rise from 33.7 kg to 34.9 kg from 2020 to 2029 and we need to ensure our processors have the tools and human resources available to meet these demands.

To make this a reality, our sector, businesses and government must work together to grow and build a resilient and more reliable food system. Open borders and Canada’s excellent reputation in food quality and safety provide ample opportunity for red meat exporters and that CMC’s recommendations will be reflected in our next government’s mandate.

ADDRESS LABOUR SHORTAGE There is nothing temporary about jobs in our sector. We offer full-time, year-round jobs, yet our sector needs to use a Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program. We agree that prioritizing jobs for Canadians is important.

That is why our meat processing companies participate in ongoing advertising, recruitment fairs and always hire Canadians first, only using the TFWP as a last resort.

The government has an aggressive goal of $75 billion in exports by 2025 and our industry is well poised to help grow this number. However, market disruptions caused by Covid-19, protectionism, tariffs, and foreign 6

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Despite increased recruitment efforts – our sector still has a vacancy rate of over 10%. Some companies in Quebec have job vacancies over 40%, and some in Alberta are approaching 20% job vacancy rates. This meatbusinesspro.com

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is unacceptable for our meat processing companies putting their viability in potential jeopardy. Most meat processing wages are union approved. That means that whether we hire a Canadian or a TFW, the wages are already pre-approved, and they have the same pay & benefits. Our members have increased wages by 5.3%, while the national average increase is 2.5% or less.

Entry-level butcher positions are the ones with the highest increase in wages.

• Vacancy Rate: 10.88% • National Annual Wage Increase: 5.30% • Empty butcher stations: 4,166 • Over 90% of TFWs who are allowed to stay remain working in the rural meat packing plants for more than 10 years.

• Conference Board of Canada research shows that when we fill one job vacancy, it creates 4 other jobs for Canadians in the supply chain.

The TFWP cap on meat processing is too restrictive and is a severe barrier, crippling the rural Canadian economy and impairing the opportunity to process value-added products. The cap restricts growth for abattoirs by limiting expansion plans, restricting immigration growth for rural Canada, and not allowing the industry to increase its export capacity.

CMC is thankful that the government has recognized butchers shortages by launching the AgriFood Immigration Pilot in May 2020. However, several issues with the pilot have not been addressed and prevent industry and our butchers from accessing this pilot.

CMC is hopeful that these issues will be resolved and that this pilot becomes a permanent solution for meat processors’ labour shortages.

Canada would immediately result in trading partners closing their markets causing a price collapse given the massive backup in the number of hogs that would be unable to move through the supply chain, the mass depopulation of 50% of the herd, and the layoff of 50% of skilled manpower working in pork plants.

Prevention, response and business continuity activities are essential to maintain the economic activity and all the jobs created by the meat industry. The pork processors, from federally licenced establishments, have slaughtered in 2020 about 21 million hogs which contributed to Canada’s GDP about $7 billion. As 50% of the herd will need to be destroyed, it is calculated that the cost to recover the industry (producers and processors) in the first year will be $2 billion (excluding euthanasia of pigs)

SRM REMOVAL REQUIREMENTS TO ALIGN TO U.S. STANDARDS Canada has now been recognized by the OIE as a negligible risk status country for the presence of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy).

Canada’s current SRM removal requirements were developed in 2003 and further enhanced in 2007.

Today, with global BSE cases reaching almost negligible levels Canada’s SRM removal protocols need to better align with current science and international guidelines.

Canada is currently at a significant competitive disadvantage to our international competitors in regard to our costly SRM removal protocols and have lost regional processing capacity because of this disadvantage.

AFRICAN SWINE FEVER PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS Canada is the most export-dependent country in the world with about 70% of its pork production being exported. An outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in

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This is not a food safety issue. We import beef processed in the U.S. back into Canada, the fact we have different rules adds a significant cost disadvantage despite the fact both countries have safe beef.

While the same parts of cattle are considered SRM in Canada and the United States, one of the major factors that increase prices in Canada are the disposal costs. In the U.S., some SRMs can be used in products such as fertilizer, while in Canada all SRM must be incinerated or sent to a special landfill, exclusively used to hold SRMs. The amount of SRM removed in Canada for animals over 30 months of age weighs as much as 40 kg per animal. While in the U.S., the amount removed is as little as 2-3 kgs.

Disposal costs of SRM from 500,000 OTM cattle in Canada costs our packers almost $6 Million more than our competitors in the US – and we have the same BSE status in the eyes of the OIE. This does not take into account the extra labour, loss of raw material or the decrease in sustainability impact of rendering byproducts. CMC has presented a position paper to the CFIA and discussions are ongoing to hopefully find a solution to this discrepancy.

VEMAG

REPLACEMENT PARTS

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TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION If Covid-19 has demonstrated anything, it is that automation could help the red meat sector considering employees work in close quarters. However, meat packing – mainly the cutting of meat, is a highly skilled manual activity and robotics cannot replace the dexterity of the human hand and the human eye, despite growth in technologies.

Manual labour will always be a part of our sector but the fact is that automation, which is adopted for good

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reasons, is more likely to be sustainable and have a good economic return. Investing in equipment to make cutting faster and safer makes sense, especially when it helps end-users meet the demand for specialized cuts and products. Safer and more consistent product, processed more safely by workers, represents a win all the way around.

Greater automation can be done through several routes; primarily through investments in innovation that support technology development. Greater access to government innovation funding would speed up the adoption process given there is often risk and large capital expenditures involved, as well as plant downtime and human resources that tend to slow the willingness to adopt.

CHINA China is a key market for the Canadian meat industry and Canada as a whole, as trade diversification is important to sustainable economic success of our sector and the country, but also the sheer size of the potential opportunities is critical to capitalize on.

Dealing in China requires the development of personal relationships, which take time and needs to outlast people changing.

MARKET ACCESS The CFIA needs to increase the number of Veterinarian Specialists with strong technical expertise to help resolve market access issues and support increased exports of red meat products.

While the Government of Canada has been successful in negotiating new trade agreements (such as CETA, CPTPP, CUSMA and others), we need to take advantage of these opportunities. This requires CFIA technical staff to negotiate the conditions and develop agreed documentation to be able access these markets. CFIA continues to limit the number of issues they can work on because of a lack of human resources.

While funds have been provided to CFIA, there remains a critical staff shortage in order for us to maximize these trade agreements and resolve market access issues.

Since we have achieved Negligible Risk for BSE status with the OIE – there are many markets that have still not given full access to all Canadian beef. The remaining restrictions need to be removed.

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Currently, 65% of Canadian pork processing capacity does not have access to China. The Chinese market adds at least an additional $20 value to the carcass that supports the financial sustainability of the pork industry. The by-products Canada produces are valued significantly more in China than anywhere else in the world.

COMMITMENT TO THE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN It is imperative that Canada learn from our recent experiences to strengthen the country’s food system in the long-term. Canada must embrace a renewed commitment to tracking, analyzing, modelling, and understanding the interactions, interconnectivity, risks, and potential of the full-food supply chain – including primary agriculture, food and beverage manufacturing, distribution, retail and other input and supporting sectors. Achieving this will be a challenge.

A main focus of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada is primary agriculture, only one part of our food system.

At the same time, while many federal departments touch on the broad range of issues critical to Canada’s food supply – such as food safety, manufacturing practices, transportation, IT and connectivity, energy,

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Retailers have made unsubstantiated claims that measures by governments to address unfair practices and inefficiencies would increase the cost of food, but the evidence proves otherwise. In countries where steps have been taken to address retailer behaviours, food inflation has been significantly lower than in Canada. In the seven years since the United Kingdom established its grocery code of conduct, food prices, when adjusted for inflation, have actually decreased by over 8% while Canadian food prices have increased by 4% in the same period. Addressing inefficiencies and Global public health organization showcases services growing unfairnessfor in Canada’s our food supply chain and helpsfast-changing everyone: food industry farmers, processors, retailers, and Canadian consumers.

NSF INTERNATIONAL FOCUSES ON CANADIAN FOOD INDUSTRY WITH NEW WEBSITE FOR SERVICES IN CANADA NSF International in Canada recently launched a new website - www.nsfcanada.ca - to give Canada’s growing labour, measures, and health there is little and regulatory complex food and beverage industry–easy access to the global publicof health organization’s and federal coordination the impact on theexpertise food system. services in Canada.

The website combines information In the context of COVID-19, this fragmented approach on the depth, experience and capabilities of the NSF left Canada without an integrated emergency response International Canadian office with access to NSF planInternational’s for the full-food system and raised significant global services dedicated to food safety risksand for quality.

Canada’s food sovereignty. We cannot let this

happen again.

Evolving regulations across countries and increasing complexities associated with a globalized food supply It is network critical that Canada’s federal government, as clients well in present challenges for NSF International as provincial andaround territorial counterparts, broadenwebsite its Canada and the world.

The new Canadian offers services to help companies navigate focus andexpertise adopt anand integrated approach to regulating challenges, including certification and these to developing policies and programsand thatauditing, impact consulting, services, training and education, Canada’s food technical system. Key to this is enhancing the food and label compliance, packaging, and product and understanding, research, analysis, and policy capacity process development.

accredited International Association for Continuing

ForEducation more information, https://cmc-cvc.com/ and Trainingvisit (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.

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, a question YesGroup_CanadianMeatBusiness-Qtr-pg.pdf 1 submit 2014-05-16 1:20:17 PMor read an FAQ.

focused on all sectors along the food supply chain, as International’s website wellNSF as the integratedCanadian food system.

Thisprovides would information ensure on the following services: Canada achieves food sovereignty and leverages Certification & auditing: Third-party food economic safety audits the strength of its food system to support and certifications, which are integral components of prosperity for Canadians, and to interact with provincial supplier selection and regulatory compliance. Accurate governments for a coordinated approach to these audits are the first step toward successful verification measures. of a company’s food safety system, providing improved brand protection and customer confidence. Certifications and audits are available animalOF andCONDUCT produce in the GROCERY STOREfor CODE agriculture industry, GFSI certification and management system registration.

As governments explore what is needed to support Consulting: A full-service team approach providing investment and strengthen the food supply chain, the technical resources, expertise and insight for a wide range creation of a Grocery Code of Conduct must be a key of food safety and quality services. NSF International consideration.

A code couldinspection create greater provides finished product testingbalance for food,in the food supply chain, and create parameters to instill packaging and non-food testing for rapid analysis and a level of certainty that suppliers will be paid on time, insight to protect the brand, technical support services from on-site temporary or permanent at the negotiated price, and will not betechnical subjectstaffing to placements, and various types of consulting. surprise or retroactive fees levied at the whim of the Technical services: one-stoppractices solution for food product retailer.

This would helpA reduce that create compliance and formulation, from concept to finished disincentives to investment and innovation in Canada’s product, including food andCode label of compliance, packaging, agri-food sectors.

A Grocery Conduct should product and process development, and shelf-life and ensure that the principle of fair dealing is applied to product evaluation. all stakeholders, whether they are suppliers or grocery Training and education: Training for the global food retailers. and beverage industry across the supply chain as an meatbusiness.ca

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PORK PRODUCERS SHARE ELECTION PRIORITIES Canada’s 7000 producers are calling on candidates from across Canada to commit to policies that will support a value chain with significant growth potential.

• Fix Business Risk Management programs so they work for producers in need • Facilitate access to skilled workers

“Canadian pork producers work hard every day to provide high quality, nutritious, affordable and sustainable protein to families in Canada and around the world,” said Rick Bergman, CPC Chair. “They need parties to partner with them to deliver economic growth and prosperity for all Canadians.”

• Defend, improve and expand market access • Resolve trade barriers in China, the world’s largest pork importer

Rick Bergman, CPC Chair Canadian pork is increasingly in demand around the world and the value chain has significant growth potential. That is why Canadian pork producers are calling on candidates to support policies that partner with producers, protect the herd and promote the environment. Parties are needed to partner with producers to maximize the potential of the sector by committing to:

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The health of Canadian pigs is one of the value chain's greatest assets but it is at risk. Parties should commit to protect the herd by:

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• Committing $50 million to implement the PanCanadian African Swine Fever action plan

resilient communities from coast to coast,” added René Roy, CPC Vice-Chair.

Canada’s pork producers are the starting point for:

• Establishing a Canadian Foot-and-Mouth disease vaccine bank Canadian pork producers already have one of the lowest environmental footprints in the world and producers are taking the extra steps to make it more sustainable. Canadian Pork Council is asking parties to work with producers to promote the environment by:

•$23.8 billion to Canada’s GDP •100,00+ jobs from farm to fork •10,000+ processing jobs in suburban and urban communities •More than $5 billion in exports to 90+ countries

• Making concrete emissions reductions by partnering with producers to further improve the environmental sustainability of Canadian pork • Exempting farm fuels such as propane and natural gas from the carbon pricing system, which impacts competitiveness without reducing emissions.

Learn more: www.cpc-ccp.com/resources/Election

The Canadian Pork Council is the national voice for hog producers in Canada. A federation of nine provincial pork industry associations representing 7,000 farms, the organization plays a leadership role in achieving and maintaining a dynamic and prosperous Canadian pork sector.

“Pork producers are calling on candidates to commit to polices so producers can employ more Canadians, increase the value of exports and build better, more 14

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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 f 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 and as such, are open to scientific facts that can correct their misconceptions.

GOVERNMENT INCREASES FUNDING TO SUPPORT FARMERS FACING EXTREME WEATHER The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, has announced that the federal government has increased total AgriRecovery funding to up to $500 million to address extraordinary costs faced by producers due to drought and wildfires. This includes initial funding of $100 million announced on August 6, 2021.

This provides an opportunity for retail meat departments to implement instore ‘Healthy Meat Facts’ nutritional Producers cananalso apply for interim payments under campaign to set the record straight and convince their AgriStability to help them cope with immediate customers that meat and poultry are actually good for one’s financial challenges.

The Government ofthan Canada health and that they should increase rather decrease and governments ofcampaign British Columbia, Alberta, theirthe purchases of it. The outlined below can have Saskatchewan, Manitoba a direct impact on sales: and Ontario have agreed to

increase the 2021 AgriStability benefit payment Start by displaying instore postersinterim promoting the nutritional percentage from 50% to 75%, so producers can access value of meat. They should be innovative, eye catching and designed to specifically contradict any to meat myths. abe greater portion of their benefit early meet theirThe comments should all be literature and based quoting research urgent needs.

British Columbia Manitoba have also papers or MDs for maximum effect. Various posters should opened up late participation in AgriStability to farmers be made - each with a brief but powerful message covering who not register in 2021 so they can benefit from one did theme. this important income support.

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’.)

Given the extraordinary circumstances that farmers in Western Canada and parts of Ontario are facing, this increased funding ensures the federal government is ready to contribute to eligible provincial AgriRecovery costs on the 60-40 cost-shared basis outlined under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The Government of Canada and the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario continue to work with the utmost urgency to complete joint assessments of the disaster and launch support programs. This will include direct assistance to affected livestock and agricultural producers, and help them with added costs of obtaining livestock feed, transportation and water.

For a woman to receive her recommended daily intake of 18 mg of iron, she would need just 300 grams of cooked bovine

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• Using the 60-40 cost-shared basis, as outlined under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the federal share would be up to $482.5 million, not including British Columbia’s planned program. The final federal funding amounts will be for eligible extraordinary costs and will be determined once the joint assessments and program developments are completed. As the situation continues to evolve, the Government of Canada stands ready to take additional action as necessary to ensure farmers have the support they need.

• Producers have access to a suite of Business Risk Management (BRM) programs to help them manage significant risks that threaten the viability of their farm and are beyond their capacity to manage.

In addition to this support, the Government of Canada announced designations for Livestock Tax Deferral on July 22, 2021, and August 6, 2021, for prescribed drought regions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. This will allow beef producers who are forced to sell a significant amount of their breeding herd due to drought conditions to offset the resulting revenues with the costs to replace the herd.

The Government of Canada continues to stand with farm families during this difficult time and is taking concrete action to respond.

• AgriRecovery is a federal-provincial-territorial disaster relief framework intended to work together with the core BRM programs to help agricultural producers recover from natural disasters. AgriRecovery helps with the extraordinary costs associated with recovering from disaster events.

• AgriStability is one of the BRM programs under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. It protects Canadian producers against large declines in farming income for reasons such as production loss, increased costs and market conditions. While the deadline to enroll for the 2021 program year has passed, provinces may request late participation to make the program available to other producers during a crisis situation.

QUICK FACTS • To date, the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario have announced provincial commitments under the AgriRecovery Framework totaling up to $322 million. o Alberta has announced a commitment of $136 million. o Saskatchewan has announced a commitment of $119 million. o Manitoba has announced a commitment of $62 million. o Ontario has announced a commitment of $5 million. o An AgriRecovery assessment for British Columbia is underway, but details of its provincial funding commitment have not yet been announced.

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• An interim payment under AgriStability is based onDF: I don’t think being on the island has really impacted us negatively one estimates of a participant’s program year way or the other. We’ve traveled a lot, production margin and reference margin. To met a lot of other farmers and livestock receive anproducers interim inpayment, participant’s other partsthe of Canada, and estimatedweproduction margin must decline all seem to have the same issues by more than 30%concerns. of their estimated and same referenceCMB: margin.

Participants canfarm apply for I understand that your an interim payment toAtlantic accessCanada program funds was the first in to be early. involved in the TESA program.

DF: Yes, I think we were the first farm

• Ministereast Bibeau continues urge of Ontario as far astoI understand. provincesI’m tonot accept the the Government of sure why eastern associations wouldn’t have previously Canada’s offer to raise the AgriStability nominated because there are compensation rateanybody from 70% to 80%.

This many farms here on PEI doing every would provide farmers across the country an as much as we are as to attain a additionalbit$75 million per year, benefitting high level of sustainability. Anyway, distressedwefarmers who need help now more were very surprised when the PEI than ever.Cattleman’s Association nominated our farm.

• During CMB: a crisisAnd such as this, farmers facing then you were attending the the stressCanadian and uncertainty of providing for Beef conference in Calgary their families may suffer serious mental and you won. health impacts.

Those needing help are DF: Yeah! That was a very nice moment encouraged to reach out like for to support, for us. But I don’t use the and can contact The Do More Ag Foundation, word win actually. However, being a not-for-profit organization focusingwas on recognized for our commitment a real honour.

If you want to know mental health in agriculture across Canada. 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 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 was a real class act. It was a wonderful experience.

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GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW JEFO PRODUCTION PLANT Jefo, a world leader in animal health and nutrition that offers alternatives to antibiotics to chickens, pigs, cows, cattle and aquaculture, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of its new production plant. By investing $42.5 million CDN in this plant, Jefo will increase its current production by up to 400% to meet the growing demand of domestic and international markets.

"More than ever, the world understands the importance of sanitary issues to improve animal health and, consequently, human health. Since our foundation, we have focused on solutions aimed at reducing antibiotic resistance by offering alternative nutritional options to livestock producers. We know that consumers pay more and more attention to what they up on their plates and we have ambitious goals for Jefo to meet this growing demand. We expect to double our sales of specialty products in the next three years," said Jean Fontaine, President of the Jefo Group. "Our Precision Intestinal Nutrition concept is a revolutionary approach focused on microbiota and gut harmony and we are conducting many promising trials on this. We surround ourselves with world-class researchers to put our ideas to the test and design the next era of precision nutrition," he adds.

The new state-of-the-art 180,000-square-foot plant will feature two production lines in the first phase with a potential expansion to six lines in the near future.

The current plant will remain in operation, therefore maximizing production stability and security.

"Fighting antibiotic resistance is essential to meet our vision of having a healthier circle of life on a more sustainable planet. Regulations on the quality of animal protein are changing in our favour and this new plant will allow us to offer our solutions to a greater number of producers. We are present in more than 80 countries, but we continue to develop new markets and innovative solutions," confirms Jean François Fontaine, Vice President of the Jefo Group. "Our international team continues to grow, for example in the Middle East where we have recently signed with new distributors, and we expect a significant increase in current markets."

Founded in 1982, Jefo offers natural, unmedicated solutions and nutrients for animal feed and owns the patent of the Jefo Matrix Technology, a microencapsulation that delivers active ingredients directly into the intestines for optimal absorption.

These solutions, which take into consideration the intestinal physiology of each species, improve the performance and health of animals, for a sustainable, safe and economical production of animal protein.

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SURVEY RESULTS POINT TO CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR CANADIAN CHICKEN FARMERS Government support for the Canadian chicken sector is very popular heading into a federal election, according to a recent survey conducted by Abacus Data for Chicken Farmers of Canada.

The Canadian chicken sector operates under the system of supply management, meaning farmers carefully match production to meet Canadian demand. Supply management ensures that consumers are guaranteed a reliable supply of fresh, high-quality chicken raised with care, and 82% of Canadians support the system.

The 5,000 respondents from across the country also shared their voting intentions in the survey, and government support for supply management and the Canadian chicken sector remained strong across the political spectrum.

“Voters have indicated that it is important to them that the government support Canada’s chicken farmers,” said Benoît Fontaine, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Canada, “Canadians have also indicated they don’t want to see any more access granted to the Canadian chicken market in future trade agreements, nor mislabelled broiler chicken crossing the border. Their intentions are clear.”

The survey revealed that Canadians have farmers’ backs when it comes to policy support as well: • 2% of Canadians want the government to crack down on mislabelled broiler chicken from the U.S. o Chicken meat is being fraudulently declared as spent fowl in order to bypass import controls, and the chicken sector and voters alike are concerned. This not only takes away jobs and income from Canada’s chicken farmers and processors, but also puts Canadian consumers at risk due to broken food chain traceability.

• 79% want the government to support chicken farm operations impacted by the pandemic.

• 72% agree that the government should not concede any further access to the Canadian chicken market in future trade agreements and the same amount believe that support programs or mitigation measures should be available to farmers when access is granted.

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Chicken Farmers of Canada represents the 2,800 chicken farmers from coast to coast and ensures that the chicken that reaches Canadians’ tables is safe, delicious, and raised to the highest standards: yours.

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

The survey also outlined that party support for the chicken sector will bolster the vote strength, attract Proposed 30,000-square-foot beef abattoir in Cloverdale would be B.C.’s largest such facility opposition voters, and bring in swing voters.

By Amy Reid, Peace Arch News A federally licensed beef processing facility is in the works When a candidate knocks on your door this election, in Surrey, BC. ask for more and remind them to think of Canada’s “There’s a new building coming forward, a new abattoir, I hardworking chicken farmers and the nutritious food think that’s the French pronunciation of slaughterhouse,” they raise to thesaid highest standards of “So animal food Councillor Mike Starchuk.

Surreycare, will have a newer facility with a better capacity so people will have safety, and sustainability. the ability to not have to ship an animal to Alberta to have it processed. The applications have gone through the conducted a survey with 5,000 Canadian Agricultural and Food Sustainability Advisory Committee.”

Abacus Data adults betweenThe thefacility dates of March to 28, 2021.

A the is proposed on a 11 25-acre property within Land Reserve at 5175 184th St. The planned random sampleAgricultural of panelists were invited to complete 30,000-square foot abattoir in Cloverdale would process up the survey fromtoa100 sethead of of partner based on the cattle perpanels day.

Lucid exchangeAccording platform. margin error a than to aThe city report, that of would makefor it larger any other processing random facility in B.C..

But it would still be comparable probability-based sample of the by industry standards, compared to the largest meat same size is +/-small 1.35, 19 times out of 20.

The data were processing plants in Alberta that process 3,000 heads of weighted according to day. census proportions. cattle per The proposed facility would be fully enclosed and designed

so as to not emit odours. And while there is an operational 6,000-square-foot abattoir on the property now, it’s can only process a limited number of cattle.

Chris Les is general manager of Meadow Valley Meats, the company behind the project. Meadow Valley Meats is seeking a Canadian Food Inspection Agency license for the proposed abattoir, to become a federally registered meat establishment and expand the operation. This would allow the meat products to be transported beyond B.C.’s boundaries. focus is on trying to bring efficient, To“Our learn more about beefa more cattle and sustainable carbon cycles, visit local product to the market, realizing we can do that now http://www.beefresearch.ca/research-topic.cfm/thein a very limited sense,” said Les. “I caution people when talking to them and they say, ‘What a big plant, that’s going carbon-cycle-beef-cattle-113 to go allow you to go mainstream.’ Well, yes, if you look in the context of B.C., but this is still a very niche plant For information about the Beef andmore we’ll serve a niche industry for producers andCattle for the Research market.

It’s certainly not going to be a monstrosity Council, visit www.BeefResearch.ca of a plant but it’ll be a big upgrade from the site currently.”

Continued on page 32

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TOUGH IMMIGRATION CONVERSATIONS NEEDED TO HELP KEEP MEAT AND POULTRY ON GROCERY STORE SHELVES

By Susan Shultz, American Sheep Industry Association, Shorty Jones, Catfish Farmers of America, Jerry Bohn, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Jen Sorenson, National Pork Producers Council, Joel Brandenberger, National Turkey Federation, Julie Anna Potts, North American Meat Institute, Roger Barlow, The Catfish Institute, Chad Gregory, United Egg Producers

While reliable labor in the food and agriculture industry has been an issue for many years, shutdowns and disruptions to production caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have simply underscored the urgency of the situation. When there’s not enough labor on farms and ranches or in processing plants, it is nearly impossible to meet demand. That is why we must pass legislation now to provide for these needs both on farm and at the processing level.

When American consumers head to the grocery store, they expect to see a meat counter filled with an abundance of animal protein options. America’s farmers, ranchers, and processors produce the highestquality animal protein in the world. However, bringing nutritious and affordable animal protein to the plates of consumers requires a strong, efficient supply chain— and that supply chain is hindered by the lack of access to a skilled, reliable workforce for agricultural and food processing operations across the country.

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Maintaining a skilled, steady, and year-round workforce in the animal protein sector has been debated to exhaustion. The partisan nature of the broader immigration discussion has left a workable, long-term solution for agricultural labor out of reach (sometimes just barely) each and every Congress. Animal agriculture offers numerous competitive jobs with full benefits that remain vacant due to the lack of applicants. Lawmakers on all sides of the debate have the ability to resolve this issue in a bipartisan fashion and bring skilled workers to the animal production and meat processing sector.

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NSF INTERNATIONAL FOCUSES ON CANADIAN FOOD INDUSTRY WITH NEW WEBSITE FOR SERVICES IN CANADA Global public health organization showcases food industry We know immigration is never an easy issue to address, but we need willing to have tough NSF International in lawmakers Canada recently launched a new conversations to solve this problem andCanada’s jumpstart rural website - www.nsfcanada.ca - to give growing America’s recovery pandemic.

This glaring and complex foodfrom and the beverage industry easy access the globalissue publiccannot health organization’s expertise and labortoshortage be kicked down the road services in Canada.

The website combines information any longer. on the depth, experience and capabilities of the NSF International Canadian office with access to NSF There are very reasonable compromises to be made International’s global services dedicated to food safety thatand address the food and agricultural industry’s needs. quality.

services for Canada’s growing and fast-changing As the debate continues and negotiations begin, the food andInternational animal agriculture industry is ready to accredited Association for Continuing work with Congress and(IACET) stakeholders to put forthHACCP, Education and Training site. Topics include meaningful, to this problem.

We food safety equitable and quality,solutions GFSI benchmarked standards, regulations (including science, food packaging, are ready now for theFSMA), Senatefood to pass legislation that food microbiology and ISOnot standards. benefits all in agriculture, simply Training a selectmodalities few. We include eLearning, on-site, customized and open enrolment. urge the Senate to address continued labor shortages website includes information about byAdditionally, developingthe a workable H-2A program that ensures management system registrations for the food, automotive, American producers can do what they do best— environmental, information security, medical devices, produce safe, abundant, and affordable animal protein aerospace and chemical industries, as well as for Ontario fordrinking an ever-growing population. water programs.

The H-2A program could easily be the solution animal Evolving regulations across countries and increasing agriculture is looking for, but current food statesupply it is complexities associated withinaits globalized cumbersome, difficult to manage, and omits certain network present challenges for NSF International clients in Visit the new Canadian website at www.nsfcanada.ca to review the food sectors of agriculture. greatest of the published on www.Agri-Pulse.com Canada and around The the world.

Thedeficiency new Canadian website First safety services capabilities video, find a list of Canadian food experts, learn about upcoming events and global news releases, a question expertise anditservices to apply help companies navigate H-2Aoffers program is that does not to processing YesGroup_CanadianMeatBusiness-Qtr-pg.pdf 1 submit 2014-05-16 1:20:17 PMor read an FAQ. these challenges, certification and auditing, cattle, hogs, poultry,including sheep, goats, or aquaculture, technical services, training and education, and consulting, it should be modified to allow processors access. food and label compliance, packaging, and product and In addition to allowing processing jobs to utilize the process development. program, the H-2A program must also be modified to NSF International’s Canadian website provides information allow year-round agricultural workers for farms and on the following services: ranches without caps or limitations preventing yearCertification auditing: Third-party safety audits round producers&from addressing theirfood shortages. and certifications, which are integral components of Currently, the program allows employers to bring supplier selection and regulatory compliance. Accurate documented to the United States verification for only audits are workers the first step toward successful temporary or seasonal jobs.

Although this approach of a company’s food safety system, providing improved makes sense for seasonal farming such as row crops, brand protection and customer confidence. Certifications and audits are available for animal and produce in the raising and processing livestock, poultry, or aquaculture agriculture industry, GFSI certification and management relies on a year-round workforce. To fill open positions system in meat andregistration. poultry food and agricultural operations, Consulting: A full-service team approachbecause providingit very the H-2A program needs more flexibility technical resources, expertise and insight for a wide well might be the most reasonable solution for year-range of food safety and quality services. NSF International round labor needs of animal agriculture. 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.

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

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NEXT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST DELIVER POLICIES TO FUEL AGRI-BUSINESSES AND HELP SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY By the end of day on September 20th, we will know which party will form the next Government of Canada.

While the results are far from pre-determined, the outcome could have a huge impact on the future success of many agri-businesses across the country.

Future tax policies, environmental measures, the movement of products and labour, among many other important issues will be significantly impacted by the next federal government. And, while some commitments have already been made by leading parties, farms and other small businesses need more attention from all of them.

As always, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business remains strictly non-partisan in lobbying to improve Canada’s business climate. Elections are no exception, so CFIB never endorses any political party or tells members how to vote. CFIB does, however, compliment those election policy ideas that are small business-friendly, and criticizes those that would be harmful.

According to recent CFIB research, the economy and small business recovery are the top two issues that small businesses owners want addressed in the upcoming federal election. For agri-businesses, these two issues also rank very high, but the top issue is addressing national debt. Similarly, reducing the overall tax burden ranks as a higher priority for agri-businesses than most small businesses.

However, CFIB’s research also reveals that less than a quarter of business owners (24%) are confident that their concerns will receive enough attention. Even fewer farmers are confident that their concerns will receive enough attention (16%).

It is critical that parties and leaders make Canada’s economy and small business recovery top priorities; not only is it critical for Canada’s ability to afford the services and infrastructure that we rely on moving forward, but also because 83 per cent of Canadians recently polled by Angus Reid Forum believed a strong small business platform will be important in this election.

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So far, some of these priorities and other important ones to farms are being highlighted in party platforms.

Many of the party policies share similar goals and even approaches such as creating carbon offset credit systems for farms, or consulting with industry to address chronic labour shortages. Improving broadband internet and connectivity in rural areas is another important issue that all parties have committed to.

A concerning policy for many agri-businesses includes the NDP recommendation to increase the capital gains tax rate to 75 per cent, which seems out-of-step with their recent support of Bill C-208 which passed and will make it more affordable to transfer farms to the next family generation. The next federal government must ensure that changes sought by Bill C-208 are implemented. It can not be more expensive to sell your farm or small business to your own child than it is to sell to a complete stranger.

Positives to help foster economic recovery include the Conservative Party’s commitment to create the Job Surge Plan, or the Liberal Party’s promise to extend the Canada Recovery Hiring Benefit. Both recovery plans have benefits and detractions.

Some policies, such as the Liberal and Conservative carbon tax plans are dramatically differently (maximums of $170 per tonne of CO2e vs $50 per tonne of CO2e).

Farmers and agriculture can certainly be part of the solution to reduce emissions, but agriculture must not be disproportionately impacted by new environmental policies.

Noticeably absent then is any mention on increasing onfarm fuel exemptions under whichever carbon tax plan is in place after September 20th. The Conservatives, NDP, Bloc and Greens all supported Bill C-206, aimed at creating more exemptions for fuels used onfarms. Although this Bill passed through the House of Commons, it died when the election was called. This is an important policy that must be implemented by the next federal government.

As small businesses emerge from months of lockdowns and restrictions, it is time for all political parties to demonstrate why it is so important to support small businesses. CFIB will continue to encourage all parties to include measures that will help support economic growth and small business recovery. Agriculture can be an important part of this economic growth and the policies that the next federal government implements can either fuel or dampen this growth.

All this said, it is important to be engaged leading up to (and on) September 20th because many agri-business priorities have not yet received the attention they deserve. It is not too late to add your voice because this election remains far from pre-determined.

If you want to get engaged, please add your voice to CFIB’s new petition business owners can sign at cfib.ca/ electionpetition to tell all federal parties what measures they want to see in their platforms.

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. meatbusinesspro.com

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