Consultations open for beef processing sustainability indicators

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The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) is looking for public input on how the sustainability of beef processing should be measured.

“With guidance from a steering committee of diverse expertise, the CRSB has developed sustainability indicators for beef processing that supplement indicators for beef production,” says Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, chair of the CRSB.  “I believe these indicators will provide the beef processing sector with the support to implement sustainable practices in their operations, and will assist the Canadian beef industry to meet consumer demand for programs that show our commitment to sustainable beef production.”

The CRSB accepted input on their first draft of the beef processing sustainability indicators this summer. And after refining them, the group is asking for input on the updated version.

The scoring system is structured with five areas or principals of sustainability: natural resources, people and the community, animal health and welfare, food, and efficiency and innovation.

“Committee members from across the beef value chain contributed diverse perspectives in identifying areas to support the beef processing sector in enhancing its practices across all five principles of sustainability,” says Page Stuart, an Alberta cattle feeder and co-chair of the committee that developed the indicators. “Based on feedback from the first consultation, indicators have been refined, and more detailed metrics across the three levels of the scoring system have been added.”

The comment period will run from October 5 to November 4, 2017.

Public Consultation: English | French

The final production and processing indicators will form part of the framework set to launch this December, along with verification protocols, chain of custody guidelines and sustainability claims.

The overarching goal of the CRSB is to set the framework for producing and sourcing verified sustainable beef in Canada.

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