Proving and Improving Sustainability of the Canadian Beef Industry

Fawn JacksonCanadian Cattlemen’s Association

Outline Canadian Cattlemen’s Association The rise of sustainability Obstacles; past, present and future Future directions and how we can work

together

68,000 cattle producers in Canada

61 head is the average herd size in Canada

Average age of beef producer in Canada is 54

4.2 million head of beef cows in Canada

$12 billion is the amount that the beef industry contributed to the Cnd. GDP in 2010

Natural Pasture22.7%

Tame or Seeded Pasture8.5%Cultivated

57.8%

Other11.0%

There are 160 million acres of farmland in Canada

50 million acres or 31.5% of agricultural land is in pasture

Challenges in the beef industry Succession Rising feed costs Margins Regulations Market Access Food Safety Animal Health Sustainability

The good the bad and the ugly… 70% of wetlands have been lost on the prairies

80% of AB’s wildlife rely on wetlands Only 25% of grasslands are left in NA You can’t restore grasslands once they are lost 70% of AB’s Species at risk are on grasslands

90 per cent of Canadian sage grouse population died off between 1988 and 2006

Cattle produce between 5-10% of Canada’s GHG’s

1% of Canadians are involved in Primary Agriculture

Many discussions on Sustainability in the beef sector Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef FAO/IMS Beef Code Global Agenda for Action BASF study in the USA Sustainability Consortium Walmart, McDonalds, Loblaws, Unilever etc. all

have sustainability plans 320 labels for sustainability

What are we doing? Joined the Global Roundtable for Sustainable

Beef Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Environmental Footprint Study (Can and Intl) Adding Environmental component to Verified

Beef Program Increase in Environmental Research Funding Collaborating with groups like Cows and Fish

Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

Mission: The CRSB mission is to advance continuous improvement in sustainability of the global beef value chain through leadership, science and multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration.

Objectives:• Enabling the adoption of best management practices• Benchmarking the progress made in sustainability• Supporting action-oriented sustainability initiatives that have measurable

outcomes• Improving communication transfer of science-based information • Identifying gaps in knowledge• Working towards a favorable regulatory and policy environment • Working in conjunction with the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

Foundation

Mission – To support the sustainable advancement and legacy of the Canadian beef industry.Objectives• Facilitate and encourage stewardship practices and

conservation actions that preserve the environment, biodiversity and wildlife habitat on working agricultural landscapes.

• Create and/or support education, leadership development and outreach programs to serve youth involved with beef cattle

• Support beef industry sustainability through research and awareness

Ecosystem Services

• The minimum value of payments in Canadian environmental markets is estimated at between C$462 million and C$752 million annually.

• We operate on 160 million acres• Social License to Operate

The Weder’s ranch has 150 species of birds, 45 mammals, 7 amphibians and 1

reptile species on it!

Did you Know?

MULTISAR

• Created in 2002 to address multiple species at the landscape level

• Multiple organizations working in partnership

• Interdisciplinary approach beneficial to cattle ranching and to the health and sustainability of the native prairie ecosystem and the SAR it supports

Successes

• Engaged 30 landowners with 256,729 acres• Two new landowners added 12,000 acres• 53 habitat enhancement projects• Converted 1390 acres back to native grass • Originally a lot of apprehension and mistrust• More proactive, inviting, collaborative, and

promoting in a few short years

Productivity advancements reduce the resources used to produce a pound of beef

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Land use Water usage Feed Fossil fuel

Sustainability Gains

1977

2007

The End

Fawn JacksonManager of Environmental AffairsCanadian Cattlemen’s Association

jacksonf@cattle.ca