RED DEER — McDonald’s is ready to test its sustainability program on Canadian farms.
It also wants Canada to know other countries are anxious to join the movement and get McDonald’s business, company executives told the Alberta Beef Industry Conference, which was held in Red Deer Feb. 18-20.
“Keep in mind we will get it from somewhere. We wanted it to be Canada, but it will be somewhere,” said Michele Banik-Rake, McDonald’s director of sustainability for the worldwide supply chain.
A lengthy set of criteria has been developed and workshops will be held with participating producers to make sure they are feasible, said Jeffrey Fitzpatrick-Stilwell of McDonald’s Canada.
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Participants need to show how natural resources are used, demonstrate good animal welfare and health, show efficiency and innovation and take care of people and the wider community.
Producers also need to participate in the national verified beef program.
A scoring system is likely to be used to show that certain thresholds are met.
“There has got to be a threshold,” said Banik-Rake.
“Those criteria have to be met in order to be a sustainable system.”
McDonald’s has hired the company Where Food Comes From to assess what is happening on suppliers’ farms and verify practices.
Other countries are also interested in joining.
Brazil established a sustainable beef round table eight years ago, and Europe is releasing its new sustainability standards in March.
These only apply to the farm, while in Canada all sectors are involved from the farm to the processors.
A three month pilot is planned, and the concept will be released it to the public this summer.
The European Union is in a good position because it has an excellent traceability system. McDonald’s Europe allows only three movements of an animal after it is born, which the trace-back system can verify, said Banik-Rake.
As well, EU suppliers must be members of one of the recognized quality assurance schemes offered through the United Kingdom and the continent through retail value chains or farmer organizations.
Australia and New Zealand are also watching Canada and want to get on board.
“New Zealand is really anxious to learn what we are doing in Canada, and they want to start a project,” she said.
