Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

Ontario’s beef industry eyes Australian-style traceability system

Case study provides insight into the opportunities of implementing a lifetime beef traceability system in Ontario

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

Ontario can learn from the success of Australia’s one-of-a-kind, chain-length traceability system for beef cattle, as suggested in a new case study released today [August 12], published by Value Chain Management International (VCMI) in partnership with Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO).

The study called “Learning from Australia’s Traceability and Meat Standards Program,” examines the viability of implementing an Australian-style traceability model for the beef sector in Ontario. Australia’s traceability program is called the National Livestock Information System (NLIS). The system started in 2002 and became fully operational by 2006.

Australia is recognized as having one of the most effective traceability systems for livestock production in the world. An approach which Martin Gooch PhD, from VCMI, says “enables business and the wider industry to capture market opportunities.”

But before diving into the opportunities for the Ontario beef industry, the report defines what “chain-length” traceability means. It requires three pillars: movement reporting, premises ID and animal ID. Making a clear distinction that “animal ID enables traceability to occur, but it is not traceability,” noting that Canada’s current traceability system does not function in a chain-length capacity.   

In order to conduct the case study, a delegation of industry leaders from Ontario traveled to Australia to see the system work first-hand. The group consisted of representatives from the value chain, including senior government officials, beef producers, processors, and retailers.  

The trip was especially useful, as Australia’s beef industry is similar to that of Ontario. Particularly, the regional differences between Eastern and Western Canada, namely Ontario and Alberta. “Similar cultural and political differences exist between the beef industries of Ontario and Alberta as exist between Victoria and Queensland,” the report explained.

Gooch described this relationship in more detail, noting that the cultural perspective would be the Alberta stereotype of “I am not going to do traceability, it’s just an expense, leave me alone government,” approach. While Ontario’s beef producers tend to have less of a “leave me alone” cultural independence attitude.

Additionally, there is the size and scale aspect. The west is home to the largest portion of the beef cattle herd in Canada. Therefore, Alberta beef production is more intense and larger than in Ontario. Gooch points out that “the dichotomy of size and culture attitude in Alberta versus Ontario literally mirrors the differences that exist in Australia.”

The success of the Australian model comes down the approach. Gooch says that if Canada or an individual province like Ontario would like to choose and pursue a similar system to Australia that government needs to take a different approach than what it has done in the past. “What we’ve done traditionally is invest in technology without having an overall strategy,” he said. He argues, come up with a strategy and then decide what technology is best suited for the implementation. Australia “established a strategy before they started investing in technology.”

Australia’s beef traceability system started in 2002 and become fully operational by 2006. And since that time it has “already returned well in excess of AUD$200 million to the industry,” he concludes. While Gooch was unable to put a price tag on implementing a similar traceability system in Ontario, he was able to estimate what it would cost at a national level. The administrative and operational costs of a traceability system of this magnitude would cost approximately $5 million a year to work in Canada.  

In an emailed statement supplied by LeaAnne Wuermli, Communications Manager for BFO, she says “the trip to Australia was an investigative mission to understand their traceability governance,” adding that the knowledge gained from the mission has provided BFO with a greater understand on “the challenges and opportunities in developing and implementing a system that meets the needs of businesses situated along the beef supply chain.”

The full report can be read online on VCMI’s website.
 


Trending Video

The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

Comments


Your email address will not be published