Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau participated today in CropConnect to announce funding for new projects that will help Canada’s grain industry manage risk and build public trust.
The Canada Grains Council (CGC) will receive over $430,000 to develop a pilot insurance product for grain exporters to address the risks they face of having their shipments rejected at the border of the importing country. The Government of Canada wants to insure that grain farmers are protected against the unpredictability of the international market and the risks of regulatory trade barriers, particularly around the input residues on seeds. With a target of growing agri-food exports to $75B by 2025, this project builds upon the government’s strong stance for international rules-based trade.
The CGC will also receive $789,558 to develop a Code of Practice for farm production of Canadian grains. The new codes are voluntary and led by farmers. They will help farmers encode the best practices to follow to be considered sustainable, for both market and public trust purposes. The codes will cover a range of topics, including fertilizer management, pesticide use, soil management, farm workers and protection of wildlife habitat, as well as food safety and work safety. The codes will confirm the confidence shared by consumers around the world that Canadian grains are made to the highest standards of quality.
Altogether, the CGC will receive up to $1.2 million in support of these two projects.
The Government of Canada knows just how important grain farmers are to Canada’s economy and rural communities. That’s why the Government will continue our ambitious plan to support its farmers and grow the Canadian agriculture sector.
Source : Government of Canada