Ottawa – Canada’s meat processing industry welcomes the decision by the Government of Canada to invest an additional $3 million in the Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS). Announced by Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Gerry Ritz during the March 8 annual meeting of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, this new contribution is in addition to the $5.3 million initial investment that occurred in March.
Developed by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and the Beef Breeds Council, BIXS is a voluntary web-based individual animal and carcass data gathering, tracking and exchange system involving all components of the beef value chain from cow-calf producers to cattle feeders and meat packers. By facilitating the flow of individual animal and carcass information both up and down the value chain, BIXS will validate specific genetic attributes and encourage the adoption of method of production systems that respond to market demands.
Commenting on the Minister’s announcement, Canadian Meat Council President Scott Entz stated “The meat industry strives to provide Canadians with a diverse array of safe, high quality, nutritious meat products. The BIXS is designed to assist producers, feeders, and meat packers by providing all with key information on the complete life cycle of beef animals. This information will enable the supply chain to make improvements in beef attributes that best satisfy the preferences of consumers, whether they live in Canada or in one of our export markets. All segments of the value chain benefit when there is close alignment between producers, processors and consumers.”
Canada’s meat processing industry includes some 400 federally registered establishments, providing not only safe, high quality protein for Canadian consumers, but also adding jobs and making a significant contribution to local economic activity in both rural and urban Canada. With some 67,500 employees and annual sales exceeding $ 21.3 billion, the industry is the largest segment of Canada’s food processing sector. Canada exports some $1.4 billion of beef and over $2.8 billion of pork to over 150 different countries around the world.
The Canadian Meat Council has been representing Canada’s federally inspected meat processing industry since 1919.
Source: Canadian Meat Council
