Manitoba beef and forage producers to benefit from McDonald’s Canada sustainable beef industry focus
Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives Inc. (MBFI) has kick-started their official first year of operations by announcing an exciting $25,000 program partnership agreement with McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada to provide outreach and tours for Manitoba beef producers.
“MBFI is committed to improving the public’s knowledge of the critical role the beef industry plays in sustaining both the Manitoba economy and in managing valuable ecosystems,” says Ramona Blyth, MBFI President and beef producer from MacGregor, Man. “Advancing and understanding the long-term profitability and sustainability connections for Manitoba’s beef producers will be enhanced via this partnership with McDonald’s Canada. We are thrilled to welcome McDonald`s Canada into our MBFI fold.”
MBFI is a collaboration between Manitoba Beef Producers, Manitoba Agriculture and Food Rural Development, Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association and Ducks Unlimited Canada collaborating for the advancement of the industry. The partnership made perfect sense and timing from McDonald’s perspective as the global restaurant leader has embarked on a verified sustainable beef pilot project in Canada.
“McDonald’s Canada sources 100% Canadian beef from farms and ranches across the country for our hamburger patties, and we’re proud to continue our support for producers as part of the MBFI initiative,” said Jeffrey Fitzpatrick-Stilwell Senior Manager of Sustainability, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited. “We have a vision for sourcing all our food from sustainable sources and partnerships with the MBFI help us on our journey as we learn from important research happening on the farm.”
The McDonald’s support will develop and grow the McDonald’s Production Day Tour, a one to two-day annual event to engage stakeholders. Already in high demand, this model of extension and outreach will benefit agricultural producers across Manitoba and Canada.
While the exact dates of the tours are in early planning stages, MBFI will hold their grand opening later this year for the three research sites in the Brandon area: Brookdale, Johnson and First Street.
“Cultivating partnerships between beef producers, governments and private stakeholders interested in advancing the industry is a key foundation of our MBFI objectives,” says Melinda German, MBP General Manager. “McDonald’s Canada has shown a great deal of interest in our commitment toward enhancing the profitability of beef and forage production by evaluating foundational research to the ranch level and transferring the knowledge gained to producers. This program partnership will be a very important component of communicating the exact values of what we are doing to numerous audiences.”
