Pigs in a barn - credit the Canadian Pork Council

By Dori Modney

Federal government provides millions in support for pork producers

Dec 7, 2021 | 4:09 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — Agriculture and Agri-food Canada has announced an investment of more than $4.6 million for three projects to grow the pork industry within Canada and in international markets.

The investment will also help farms ensure high levels of safety in the face of the threat of African swine fever and build on Canada’s internationally-renowned reputation as a supplier of high-quality and sustainably-produced pork products.

Canada is the third-largest pork exporter in the world, as the pork industry exports roughly two thirds of its production and live hogs, valued at $5.4 billion in 2020, to over 90 countries.

In 2020, the 7,635 Canadian hog farms produced 27.8 million hogs. The largest hog producing provinces are Manitoba, Québec and Ontario, representing 80 percent of total production.

African swine fever (ASF), is a contagious and deadly viral disease affecting both domestic and feral swine. ASF is not a threat to human health and cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans, nor is it a food safety issue. Since 2018, ASF has spread through parts of Asia and Europe, and was most recently detected in the Caribbean. It has never been found in Canada or the United States.

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Canada’s pork industry is supported by quality on-farm programs that include food safety, animal care, traceability and bio-security.

A portion of the overall investment, more than $3.2 million, is designated for Canada Pork International to undertake export market development initiatives. Its expected to maintain and improve access to international markets, and develop promotional activities and tools to increase market share in priority markets.

Funding of more than $550,000 will support the Canadian Pork Council’s national marketing activities to increase consumption and value domestically. This funding will also support the Council’s work to enhance international relationships and coordination with members across the value chain. These projects are supported under the federal AgriMarketing Program.

In making the funding announcement, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, also announced an additional $850,000 for the Council to help industry prevent and prepare for African swine fever.

This builds on previously announced funding of more than $3.8 million for the Canadian Pork Excellence platform, which integrates three principal on-farm programs: PigSAFE, a food safety and bio-security program; PigCARE, an animal care program; and PigTRACE, a traceability program.

These projects are funded through the federal Agri-Assurance Program.