A program which allows beef producers to prove to consumers they're doing the right thing is getting a funding boost.
Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) has been allocated $602,250 as part of the Federal Government's over $8 million investment in the beef industry announced earlier this month.
The program involves a voluntary audit and training, where certified beef operations can claim they meet the highest standards for food safety, animal care and environmental stewardship.
VBP+ Management Committee Chair, Cecilie Fleming, says the funding will go towards enhancing their database and making the program equivalent with similar quality assurance programs.
In a release, VBP+ says the money will also be used for training platform modifications and developing a system to determine the impact of training on changes in sustainable production practices.
Fleming adds, they've seen an increase in producer participation, but would like to see more get involved.
"We are encouraging cow-calf producers to get on board, get trained and look at being audited," she said. "If they look at the benefits, we think there's a lot."
Being enrolled is one of the ways to be involved in the Canadian Beef Sustainability Acceleration Pilot, where financial credits are awarded to beef producers for each of their animals which make it through a fully certified supply chain.
Click here to see more...