On Tuesday, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau announced an investment of more than $4.6 million for three projects to grow the pork industry within Canada and in international markets, and to help farms continue to ensure high levels of safety in the face of the threat of African swine fever.
“Our producers’ efforts to make agriculture increasingly sustainable have become a guarantee of quality for Quebec and Canadian pork, which is key to accessing new foreign markets and millions of consumers who seek superior-quality products. Our investments will help producers speed up their shift to more sustainable agriculture, open the door to new markets both here and abroad, and combat threats such as African swine fever,” said Bibeau.
Through an investment of more than $3.2 million, Canada Pork International will undertake export market development initiatives to maintain and improve access to international markets, and develop promotional activities and tools to increase market share in priority markets.
Funding of more than $550,000 will support the Canadian Pork Council’s national marketing activities to increase consumption and value domestically. This funding will also support the Council’s work to enhance international relationships and coordination with members across the value chain.
These projects are supported under the federal AgriMarketing Program.
Minister Bibeau also announced an additional $850,000 for the Council to help industry prevent and prepare for African swine fever. This builds on previously announced funding of more than $3.8 million for the Canadian Pork Excellence platform, which integrates three principal on-farm programs: PigSAFE, a food safety and biosecurity program; PigCARE, an animal care program; and PigTRACE, a traceability program.
These projects are funded through the federal AgriAssurance Program.
“We are pleased with the investment to increase domestic pork consumption and to better prevent and prepare for the eventuality that an African Swine Fever outbreak could occur in Canada. Canada's pork producers look forward to continuing to work with Minister Bibeau to increase our sector's resiliency and advance our contributions to Canada's environmental, economic and social sustainability," said Rick Bergmann, Canadian Pork Council Chair
The Canadian pork industry exports roughly two thirds of its pork production and live hogs, valued at $5.4 billion in 2020, to over 90 countries.
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