Another year of guaranteed financial return for CRSB Certified beef producers from Cargill, its supply chain partners and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) has once again partnered with Cargill and its customers – Centennial Food Solutions, Gordon Food Service, Intercity Packers, MacGregors Meat & Seafood, McDonald’s Canada, Metro, Recipe Unlimited and Walmart – to provide up to $400 CAD for beef producers maintaining their CRSB Certification. This credit will be provided for another year to “fill the gap” for Canadian beef producers who have made the upfront investment of becomingCRSB Certified but did not receive at least $400 CACargill Certification Credit USE D in financial return for qualifying cattle processed in 2023 as part of the existing Qualifying Cattle Credits

 I would like to extend my sincere thanks to these organizations for supporting the CRSB Certified program for another year. In 2024, CRSB will prioritize identifying long-term solutions to ensure certification provides financial value and enduring benefit to producer participation,” said Ryan Beierbach, Chair of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and beef producer from Whitewood, Saskatchewan. “We think the CRSB Certified program is one important tool for the Canadian beef sector to demonstrate continuous improvement, and the CRSB hopes other organizations will formally recognize its value.”

The Certification Recognition Credit will be issued over and above the existing Qualifying Cattle Credits paid by Cargill to beef producers for qualifying cattle processed in 2023. This incremental payment will ensure all CRSB Certified operations who became or maintained their CRSB Certified status through 2023 and into 2024 will receive a minimum $400 CAD in total annual credit payments as part of the CRSB Certified Sustainable Beef Framework. The credit will only apply to those operations who have not already received at least $400 CAD in Qualifying Cattle Credits. The credit will be paid to CRSB Certified operations regardless of whether their qualifying cattle were ultimately sold into Cargill.

“As a founding member of the CRSB Certified Program, McDonald’s Canada is proud to see how the program has continued to grow. We would like to thank and recognize all of the producers who are working within the CRSB’s framework to make the beef industry even more resilient,” said Hope Bentley, Head of Supply Chain, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited.

Qualifying operations do not need to apply separately for this credit and can expect their payment in April 2024. Provided that the operation maintains an active certification status at the start of 2024, the operation is eligible to receive a Certification Recognition Credit based on the difference between $400 CAD and the amount that the operation earned via Cargill’s Qualifying Cattle Credit for all qualifying cattle processed in 2023.

“With this funding, we want to recognize the commitment of Canadian producers in ensuring the viability of this program and their dedication to sustainable practices throughout a difficult production year,” said Eliza Clark, Sustainability Lead, Cargill Protein and Salt. “We are also grateful for the many Cargill customers who have contributed to our combined investment of this initiative. It is their support of programs like the CRSB Certified Sustainable Beef Framework that allows us to create and sustain high standards for sustainability practices across the Canadian beef supply chain.”

Funding for the CRSB Certification Recognition Credit is provided by Cargill, Centennial Food Solutions, Gordon Food Service, Intercity Packers, MacGregors Meat & Seafood, McDonald’s Canada, Metro, Recipe Unlimited and Walmart.