Ottawa – Canada’s meat processing industry welcomes the announcement by federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Agriculture of the next generation of agricultural policy. The new five-year agreement, that will be implemented by April 1, 2013, includes investments in innovation, competitiveness and market development.
“We are pleased to see that the new policy includes a 50% increase in cost-shared investments in strategic initiatives (non-Business Risk Management) to stimulate innovation, competitiveness, and market development” stated Canadian Meat Council President Ray Price.“
Agriculture Ministers reported having reviewed the status of federal trade negotiations and promotional and access initiatives in key export markets, including South Korea, Europe, Japan and China. They agreed to continue an aggressive trade agenda that is opening new markets and creating opportunities.
“Canada’s livestock and meat sector has the production capacity, the high quality and the international experience to satisfy a greater proportion of the world’s import requirements in the coming years. The Canadian Meat Council fully supports and strongly encourages continued efforts by the Government of Canada to expand market access for the vitally important Canadian meat industry” added Price.
Canada’s meat processing industry includes some 400 federally registered establishments, providing not only safe, high quality protein for Canadian consumers, but also adding jobs and offering a significant contribution to local economic activity in both rural and urban Canada. With some 67,500 employees and annual sales exceeding $21.3 billion, the industry is the largest segment of Canada’s food processing sector. Last year Canada exported some $1.3 billion of beef and over $3.2 billion of pork to over 125 different countries around the world. The Canadian Meat Council has been representing Canada’s federally inspected meat processing industry since 1919.
Source: Canadian Meat Council