Canada’s 7,000 pork producers are urging political candidates from across their country to commit to policies that will support a value chain with significant growth potential, including extra attention to diseases like African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease.
“Canadian pork producers work hard every day to provide high quality, nutritious, affordable and sustainable protein to families in Canada and around the world,” Rick Bergman, Canadian Pork Council (CPC) chair, said in a release. “They need parties to partner with them to deliver economic growth and prosperity for all Canadians.”
Key issues were raised during a press conference on Aug. 23 for parties to partner with producers to maximize their potential, including:
-Fix Business Risk Management programs so they work for producers in need
-Facilitate access to skilled workers
-Defend, improve and expand market access
-Resolve trade barriers in China
Pig health was also brought up as a major risk to the industry. Pork leaders encouraged parties to protect the pig herd by committing $50 million to implement the Pan-Canadian African Swine Fever action plan and to establish a Canadian foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank.
Canadian pork producers already have one of the lowest environmental footprints in the world, CPC noted in the release. But continued support is needed to help producers reach their goals. Suggestions include making concrete emissions reductions by partnering with producers to further improve the environmental sustainability of Canadian pork and exempting farm fuels such as propane and natural gas from the carbon pricing system.
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