National Beef Strategy sees great progress in latest status update

The Canadian beef industry is taking a look at what it's done and how it can move forward as a status update on its 2020-2024 National Beef Strategy.

The status update covers the last two years of the strategy, covering June 2022 through June 2024.

Chair of the Canadian Beef Advisors Craig Lehr talks about some of the accomplishments they've gone through over the past couple of years.

"With the recent status update, it's a great overview of the progress we've been making in the industry on achieving our goals. I guess some of the highlights would be the progress in the markets, and the great increase in demand for Canadian beef. A lot of that's due to the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement."

"On the environmental side, moving along with Bovaer 3NLP products with the approvals being made for that through the CFIA as a feed additive to help eliminate and decrease greenhouse gas emissions, methane reduction. As well as I believe we're at a 15% reduction in beef-related emissions in the last number of years since 2014, we're down 15% in intensity."

Lehr says those achievements have been in spite of the fact that there have been plenty of difficulties over the last four years.

"It's a massive industry with massive challenges and I think we've done well in a lot of areas and given the challenges that the industry has faced, you know, the COVID pandemic, post-pandemic recovery has been a big one. The industry has been challenged by things like drought as well. So the industry continues to fight and move forward and you know I think that's what's important to highlight."

In making the strategy, Lehr says they look towards many aspects of the beef industry.

"Producers are the driving force behind it, so the beef advisors are made up of the chair and the executive director or manager of all the national organizations which brings a lot of great ideas and great representation from the industry, from all aspects. From research to the more policy side with the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, CRSP is involved as well as national cattle feeders and the Canadian Beef Breeds Council, Canada Beef as well. So there's there's just a whole bunch of expertise there from all aspects of the industry that bring a great perspective."

With the next strategy being written for 2025, Lehr says that as a whole they'll look to continue their current progress. 

"A lot of continuing to strive for better on things we've already gained on. Improving market access is a big one. We also continue to recognize and they're going to put a little more into succession planning, youth involvement in agriculture here."

"I'm really happy that the group has decided to move forward with that aspect of it and draw a little more attention to the fact that we have an aging population in this industry and we need to do everything we can to to bring youth into agriculture and the beef industry specifically."