A new economic research institute should relieve some of the information gaps dogging the Canadian beef industry.
That lack of good economic research on cattle markets and pricing left Canada unprepared to understand the affects of the BSE crisis, said Kurt Klein, an agriculture economist at the University of Lethbridge.
“We hope we can fill that hole.”
The North American Institute for Beef Economic Research is a joint initiative between Canadians and Americans.
Klein, who heads the Canadian side of the team, said there is room for Mexico to join later. Ted Schroeder of Kansas State University heads the American team.
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“We want to do independent peer reviewed research that is not necessarily the same as the industry might see it,” Klein said.
He said little up to date economic information exists in Canada on the cattle industry, with the exception of some consulting reports. What the industry needs is continuing information on areas such as captive supply and pricing and wide ranging impact studies.
Once the institute finds funding, it plans to hire a staff of two or three permanent researchers guided by a board of directors.
Australia, New Zealand and the United States have major beef research initiatives.
“We are running this industry on a shoestring,” Klein said.
Up to now, Canada has relied on American information. While there are many similarities, there are also differences that need a Canadian perspective.
The National Beef Industry Development Fund provided half of the start-up funding. The other half came from the U.S.
