Canadian dairy industry receives $8.5 million earmarked for traceability and quality assurance

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced $8.5 million for two projects led by Dairy Farmers of Canada.

“Dairy farms are at the heart of so many communities across the country, and I know just how hard our dairy farmers work to provide us with top-quality products while caring for their animals and the environment. Today’s investment is about giving Dairy Farmers of Canada the support they need to help farmers adopt sustainable practices to lower emissions, and improve the traceability and safety of dairy products.”

The funding is geared at helping to improve existing producer support tools, such as the national dairy cattle traceability program, DairyTrace,
 and the related proAction® quality assurance program, which provides a framework for high standards of farming.

DFC President David Wiens says the AAFC investments will help the Canadian dairy industry find long-term success in safety and sustainability. 

"These programs go hand in hand: improved traceability protects against and prevents disease spread, supporting the viability of our nation’s dairy farms. This results in less waste and a more sustainable food supply chain for all Canadians."

DFC will be receiving up to $5,000,000 over five years to advance sustainability and public trust in the dairy industry, leveraging the proAction quality assurance program. The proAction program ensures Canadian dairy farms maintain high standards in terms of environmental impact, food safety, animal care, and more.

The other $3,572,786 will be delivered to the DFC over five years to build on their existing tools and strengthen DairyTrace to help protect and enhance animal health, public trust, and sustainability. Traceability supports the sustainability and viability of the dairy industry by helping prevent the spread of disease, thereby promoting more sustainable food production and supporting new federal regulations for animal health.

Dairy Farmers of Canada are holding their Annual General Meeting in St John's this week, this year's theme focuses on  "Building a Robust and Modern Canadian Dairy Industry for the Future"