Government Of Canada Responds To Meat Sector Concerns

Sep 09, 2019

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The federal government has released a statement addressing concerns being raised by the beef and pork sectors:

Our Government recognizes that getting pork and beef to market is important to the sector and to the economy.

Canada’s focus is on working with China to reassure them of the integrity of Canada’s certification process, and to resume exports of Canadian meat products. CFIA officials continue to engage with Chinese officials to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

A Pork and Beef Government–Industry-Stakeholder working group has been created to develop strategies to strengthen the sector and ensure it is able to respond to changing global market conditions and improve its ability to take advantage of market diversification opportunities. This is just one of the ways we are taking a collaborative, coordinated and forward-looking approach to ensure our meat sector continues to thrive now and in the future.

In addition to that, we continue to look to diversify our markets. With the CPTPP and CETA, Canadian farmers and producers have preferential market access to an estimated 1.5 billion consumers in more than 50 countries.

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Video: How farmers are protecting the soil and our food security | DW Documentary

For a long time, soil was all but ignored. But for years, the valuable humus layer has been thinning. Farmers in Brandenburg are clearly feeling the effects of this on their sandy fields. Many are now taking steps to prepare their farms for the future.

Years of drought, record rainfall and failed harvests: we are becoming increasingly aware of how sensitively our environment reacts to extreme weather conditions. Farmers' livelihoods are at stake. So is the ability of consumers to afford food.

For a few years now, agriculture that focuses solely on maximum yields has been regarded with increasing skepticism. It is becoming more and more clear just how dependent we are on healthy soils.

Brandenburg is the federal state with the worst soil quality in Germany. The already thin, fertile humus layer has been shrinking for decades. Researchers and farmers who are keen to experiment are combating these developments and looking for solutions. Priority is being given to building up the humus layer, which consists of microorganisms and fungi, as well as springtails, small worms and centipedes.

For Lena and Philipp Adler, two young vegetable farmers, the tiny soil creatures are invaluable helpers. On their three-hectare organic farm, they rely on simple, mechanical weed control, fallow areas where the soil can recover, and diversity. Conventional farmer Mark Dümichen also does everything he can to protect soil life on his land. For years, he has not tilled the soil after the harvest and sows directly into the field. His yields have stabilized since he began to work this way.

Isabella Krause from Regionalwert AG Berlin-Brandenburg is convinced after the experiences of the last hot summers that new crops will thrive on Brandenburg's fields in the long term. She has founded a network of farmers who are promoting the cultivation of chickpeas with support from the scientific community.