BCRC will receive an investment of up to $14 million from the feds
By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Farms.com
The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) will receive an investment of up to $14 million under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Clusters.
Lawrence MacAulay, the federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, made the announcement yesterday during the Calgary Stampede, a government release said.
BCRC, a division of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, will contribute up to an additional $7.6 million, bringing the total investment to $21 million.
“Canadian farmers and ranchers know the importance of innovation in maintaining their competitiveness, and that’s especially true in Canada’s beef sector,” MacAulay said in the release.
“Investments in research deliver real results and help to ensure our beef farmers continue to raise top quality beef that consumers have come to expect.”
The research funded under the Sustainable Beef and Forage Science Cluster will focus on improving the sustainability of Canadian beef and forage production, growing beef exports, and supplying high-quality Canadian beef globally, the release said.
“The science-based knowledge and innovations that result from this investment will work to responsibly increase production while enhancing industry competitiveness and public trust, advancing the economic, social and environmental sustainability of Canada’s beef sector,” Ryan Beierbach, BCRC chair and Saskatchewan rancher, said in the release.
“A prosperous beef sector not only benefits the farmers and ranchers across Canada, it maintains grazing lands that are important to preserve for their role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity and wildlife habitat.”
The previous Beef Cluster conducted research on genetics, feed efficiency, as well as forages and animal health.
MacAulay’s announcement was part of his “Growing Canadian Agriculture” tour which continues until July 17.
Previous coverage on the Partnership’s Agriscience Superclusters can be found here.