Cows on pasture - LNN

By Dori Modney

Consumers demand sustainable products – Canadian beef industry responds

Dec 8, 2021 | 1:34 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — As Canadian beef producers work to create a more sustainable industry with a number of programs, the federal Agriculture and Agri-Food department has provided assistance.

On Tuesday (Dec 7), Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced almost $200,000 in support of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s (CCA) Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) program and remote auditing.

The money will be directed towards a web portal and an app for remote audits, which will make it easier for cattle producers to access the VBP+ program.

The VBP+ program is a voluntary certification program administered by the CCA to ensure beef cattle operations meet high standards for food safety, animal care and environmental stewardship.

Canada’s beef industry has half the greenhouse gas footprint per kilogram of production compared to the global average. Along with Canada, the U.S. and the EU, the CCA has taken the Global Methane Pledge, to reduce methane emissions by at least 30-per cent below 2020 levels by 2030.

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With over 1.6 million cattle already under the management of certified VBP+ operations in Canada, Tuesdays announcement will help more cattle producers meet market demand for sustainably raised beef. The importance of the VBP+ program is underscored by the fact that beef production contributes about $21.8 billion to Canada’s GDP (2018-2020 Statistics Canada/Canfax averages).

As well, in 2020, Canada exported 425 million kilograms of beef to international markets, valued at $3.26 billion.