A well-functioning livestock traceability system is critical to opening and re-opening markets, federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz said last week.
Against the backdrop of Canadian Western Agribition, he announced $410,000 for projects through the Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative.
“There’s just no doubt about it,” he said. “Traceability is opening doors and walls on the world stage.”
Consumers want to know more about the origins of their food, and Canadian producers need a system to help them deal efficiently with any animal health issues, Ritz said.
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The money will support 23 projects, including the purchase and installation of equipment and corral modification at Lone Spruce Developments in Two Hills, Alta.
He said 90 percent of the industry is now part of the traceability system.
“Now it’s a matter of making sure we have a database that’s up to the job of collecting that information and having it available at the touch of a button,” he said.
South Korea is one market that remains closed since BSE was discovered in Canada in 2003. The two countries are working to resolve the issue. South Korea has until the end of this year to reopen the market to Canadian beef.
OTHER FUNDING ANNOUNCED
•$150,000 for Agribition’s International Business Centre through its AgriMarketing Program
•$137,000 from the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program to two livestock and forage projects
•$74,000 to Prairie Diagnostic Services of Saskatoon to build a database to track animal diseases
•$63,000 to Sunprime Extracts Ltd. of Russell, Man., to develop alfalfa powder for export
