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Funding announced to support Canadian beef industry’s sustainable development

Jul 12, 2023 | 2:28 PM

CALGARY, AB – Canada’s beef industry has received a funding boost from the federal government.

At the Calgary Stampede on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, an investment of more than $12 million was announced for the Canadian Cattle Association under the AgriScience Program – Clusters Component.

The Beef Cattle Research Council, which is a division of the Canadian Cattle Association, will administer the Beef and Forage Cluster.

Officials said the investment strives to drive the growth of the beef industry in Canada through research, innovation and technology transfer, while improving the industry’s environmental footprint.

In total, 23 projects are being funded and focus on three AgriScience program priorities.

These include climate change and environment, economic growth and development, and sector resilience and societal changes. Research activities will include reducing methane emissions through feeding strategies, and breeding forages that are more productive and profitable. Work will also focus on creating technologies for faster responses to emerging diseases.

Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau said, “”Across the country, beef farmers and ranchers are incorporating new methods into their day-to-day routines to meet the global demand for Canadian beef.”

She added, “Today’s investment will help the sector continue to deliver results and maintain their solid reputation, while continuing to contribute to our environmental goals.”

The beef and cattle industry is one of the largest in Canadian agriculture, with officials noting the country is also one of the largest exporters of livestock and red meat in the world, exporting roughly 50 per cent of Canadian beef and cattle production each year.

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