National Beef Strategy update highlights achievements and future goals

The Canadian beef industry is rolling out an update on its 2020-24 National Beef Strategy, highlighting achievements over the past two years.

The National Beef Strategy was brought to fruition by Canadian Beef Advisors to collectively capitalize on opportunities. It has offered guidance despite supply chain challenges such as droughts, feed shortages, and post-pandemic recovery.

The update provides an overview of the last two years (June 2022 to June 2024), and includes the following list of achievements.

Beef Demand

• BSE Negligible Risk Status: Achieved in May 2021, leading to:
  • Singapore lifting all related restrictions.
  • Japan restoring market access to Canadian beef.
  • Taiwan removing all remaining BSE restrictions.
• Exports: Thanks to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP), our exports to Japan and Vietnam have grown.
• Beef Demand Index: 2023 saw the third strongest retail beef demand since 1985 and the second highest wholesale beef demand on record.
• International Demand: We hit a new record in 2023, exporting 496,917 tonnes of beef worth $5.02 billion, marking the sixth consecutive year of record export values.
• Public Support: Research by Public and Stakeholder Engagement (PSE) shows strong support for the industry with few negative perceptions about production practices.

Competitiveness

• Regulatory Progress: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) approved the feed additive Bovaer (3NOP) using a risk-based process.
• Livestock Price Insurance: Expanded into Eastern Canada after years of advocacy.
• Biosecurity: Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) funding for the Vaccine Bank and Preparedness Plan has strengthened our biosecurity measures.
• Tax and Financial Support: Producers are now exempt from the Under Used Housing Tax reporting requirements, and the interest-free portion of the Advance Payments Program has been reinstated to $250,000.

Productivity

• Emissions: The 2021 NBSA results show a 15 per cent reduction in emissions intensity from beef, halfway to our 2030 goal.
• Research Projects: Since 2022, 87 new projects have started with Beef Cattle Research Council funding, covering priorities like animal health, antimicrobial use, forage productivity, feed efficiency, beef quality, food safety, and environmental sustainability.
• Data and Analytics: Progress on the Canadian Beef Improvement Network includes better data collection, pilot projects, and efforts to support genetic literacy and tool adoption.

Connectivity

• Advocacy Campaigns: “Don’t Label My Beef” and “Say No to a Bad Deal” have garnered public support and influenced policy decisions.
• Industry Challenges: Despite rising energy and input prices and food inflation, the Canadian Beef Advisors are pleased with industry successes. Post-pandemic, we’ve re-engaged with the industry and international forums as in-person events resumed.

Looking ahead, Canadian Beef Advisors is renewing the National Beef Strategy for 2025-30, set to be released in January 2025. This update will align with the 2030 goals.

“There have been positive developments recently with investments into packing plants. Producers are looking forward to seeing the pull for cattle that comes from this,” says Craig Lehr, Chair of the Beef Advisors and the Beef Cattle Research Council, and Delegate with Alberta Beef Producers. “Continued research to support producer competitiveness in a higher cost structure is key to future expansion.”

The Canadian Beef Advisors is made up of elected leaders and senior staff from seven national beef organizations, including the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC), Canada Beef, the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) (and its provincial member associations), the Canadian Meat Council (CMC), the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB), and the National Cattle Feeders’ Association (NCFA).

Read the Full Report and Executive Summary online.