CRSB Certified: Making the most of your certification

The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) was created to provide a collaborative space for players across the beef value chain to work together on sustainability.

The organization works to advance, measure and communicate continual progress in the sustainability of the Canadian Beef value chain. The CRSB Certified program is a voluntary tool to recognize sustainable practices and provide credible assurances for the production, processing, and sourcing of beef through certified supply chains in Canada.

About the program

The program is centered around outcome-based standards for beef production and primary processing, with indicators aligned to the five principles of beef sustainability—natural resources, people and the community, animal health and welfare, food (safety and quality), and efficiency and innovation. This model allows flexibility in how indicators are met, recognizing differences in production systems, climate, geography, and operation type.

The program was developed through extensive multi-stakeholder input, including beef producers, subject matter experts, public consultation, industry feedback, and consumer research.

How the system works

CRSB Certification is delivered by third-party bodies: VBP+, Ontario Corn Fed Beef Quality Assurance (for Ontario feedlots), and Where Food Comes From. VBP+ producers are certified to both programs through a single streamlined process. Certification involves meeting all indicators in the Sustainable Beef Production Standard, verified through an on-farm assessment every five years, with records assessments and self-declarations in between.

CRSB Certified beef must move through certified operations from birth to processing. Since 2022, the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) has served as the sole live cattle chain of custody system (excluding Quebec), supporting traceability and ensuring the credibility of CRSB claims.

Qualifying cattle requirements

To qualify for a CRSB Claim, cattle must move through CRSB Certified Operations from birth up to and including the primary processor. The beef must come from animals with documented records, including an RFID tag for identification, birth date (age verification) evidence from a CRSB approved live-cattle chain of custody verifier, and movement records confirming cattle moved through only applicable CRSB Certified Operations.

To help supply chain players, CRSB also worked with CCIA to incorporate a CRSB Certified qualifying cattle search tool in the CLTS.

“CRSB Certification means acknowledgement for the hard work producers dedicate to their operations every year. A complete supply chain is of utmost importance—it enables the CRSB program to work for producers and their operations, and everyone should benefit,” says Brodie Haugan, Past Chair of ABP and member of the CRSB Council. “I encourage Alberta producers to also take advantage of the government funding currently available for producers certified by VBP+.”

“I encourage all producers to ensure they are completing all the steps for their role in the supply chain. Information gaps in the system at each one of these steps affect the qualifying cattle for supply chains seeking CRSB Certified beef and ultimately impacts the benefits for all participants,” says Ryan Beierbach, Chair of the CRSB and a Saskatchewan rancher.

Benefits and incentives

The CRSB Certified program recognizes the diverse sustainable practices already in place on many Canadian beef farms and ranches, builds consumer confidence, and offers the opportunity to promote certification status using the CRSB logo.

Over the past several years, CRSB’s retail and food service partners have embraced the program, and are sourcing CRSB Certified Beef, while supply chain partners such as Cargill and members like Farm Credit Canada are recognizing the investment producers are making through financial incentives.

In March 2025, CRSB and Cargill announced the continuation of the Recognition Credit—up to $400 for any CRSB Certified operation that didn’t receive at least that amount in per-head qualifying cattle credits in 2024.

CRSB also continues to develop tools and practical solutions to support certified producers.

For more information, visit crsbcertified.ca or contact info@crsbcertified.ca.

This article was first published in Volume 5 Issue 2 of ABP Magazine (May 2025). To access the full digital magazine or subscribe to the print edition, click here.