The Government of Canada is now accepting applications for support that will help the Canadian cattle industry become more competitive. Canadian slaughterhouses can now apply to the Abattoir Competitiveness Program and the Slaughter Waste Innovation Program, as announced in the 2010 Jobs and Growth Budget.
“Canada produces the best beef in the world and a strengthened processing sector will help our farmers get prices they deserve from stronger markets,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “We’re working with cattle processors to make sure they can become more innovative with specified risk materials, which will help to make them more competitive and the entire value chain more profitable.”
“The cattle industry has faced a number of challenges over the last several years,” said the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture). “These programs will help the cattle processing sector address short-term competitiveness issues and move towards a more efficient management of Specified Risk Material over the longer term”.
The Abattoir Competitiveness Program will make $25 million available to help Canadian cattle slaughterhouses maintain critical slaughter capacity in Canada for over-thirty-month-old (OTM) cattle while the industry undertakes efforts to become more innovative and competitive when dealing with specified risk materials (SRM). Federally, provincially and territorially inspected cattle slaughter facilities that slaughtered OTM cattle in Canada during 2009 and 2010 calendar years will be eligible for support based on their 2010 production of SRM from OTM cattle in Canada.
The Slaughter Waste Innovation Program will make $40 million available to help drive research, development, and adoption of innovative technologies or processes to reduce handling costs or return profits from the use or disposal of SRM. Federally, provincially, and territorially inspected cattle slaughterhouses; stand alone businesses handling SRM; and research or engineering firms in partnership with these parties or with livestock industry associations are eligible to apply.
These programs were developed from the $500 million Agricultural Flexibility fund, announced as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to help the cattle sector adapt to cost pressures and improve its competitiveness.
For more information on the Abattoir Competitiveness Program, visit www.agr.gc.ca/acp or call 1-877-290-2188.
For more information on the Slaughter Waste Innovation Program, visit www.agr.gc.ca/swip or call 1-877-246-4682.
For more information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
