August 24, 2021

 

Canada's pork producers call upon political candidates to commit to supporting value chain

 

  

Canada's 7,000 pork producers are urging political candidates from across their country to commit to policies that will support a value chain with significant growth potential, including more attention to diseases like African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease.

 

"Canadian pork producers work hard every day to provide high quality, nutritious, affordable and sustainable protein to families in Canada and around the world," Rick Bergman, Canadian Pork Council (CPC) chair, said in a release. "They need parties to partner with them to deliver economic growth and prosperity for all Canadians."

 

Key issues were raised during a press conference on August 23 for parties to partner with producers to maximise their potential, including fixing Business Risk Management programmes so that they work for producers in need; facilitating access to skilled workers; defending, improving and expanding market access; and resolving trade barriers in China.

 

Pig health was also brought up as a major risk to the industry. Pork leaders encouraged parties to protect the pig herd by committing $50 million to implement the Pan-Canadian African Swine Fever action plan and to establish a Canadian foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank.

 

Canadian pork producers already have one of the lowest environmental footprints in the world, CPC noted in the release.

 

However, continued support is needed to help producers reach their goals.

 

Suggestions include making concrete emission reductions by partnering with producers to further improve the environmental sustainability of Canadian pork and exempting farm fuels such as propane and natural gas from the carbon pricing system.

 

- Farm Journal's Pork

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