Citing improved access to information for stakeholders, the federal government announced yesterday the establishment of 16 centres of excellence across the country specializing in plant and animal health or food safety.
According to a media release, the centres will consolidate expertise for specific programs in appropriate areas, providing industry and consumer stakeholders with more efficient access to guidance and expertise and improving communication within the organization.
Concerning the Prairies, a centre in Saskatoon will focus on grains and oilseeds, seed, plants and fertilizers, while centres in Calgary will address red meat slaughter and foreign animal disease and emergency management.
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“These centres of expertise will pool expertise and make it available through a single window, making the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) more efficient and giving industry, CFIA inspectors and Canadians better, more consistent service,” said federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz in the release. “In addition, locations will be near both academic and provincial experts in a particular field to leverage expertise and collaboration among organizations.”
While providing no firm details, the release notes the centres will be implemented “over the next few years.”
Other centres across the country will focus on forestry, aquaculture, processing and horticulture.
