Evidence of meeting #42 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was animal.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
In 2003 there was the BSE crisis. Through the research I quickly did online, I saw that you received $130,000 last year to kind of re-establish work outside the country and to develop the industry again to rebuild the relationship. How is that going?
Government Affairs, Canadian Renderers Association
Are you referring to the AgriMarketing program?
Government Affairs, Canadian Renderers Association
It's actually $40,000 a year. That money is used primarily for export development and incoming missions and so on. The industry receives that money generally for two reasons. One is to use it for incoming missions and outgoing missions. But it also raises the profile of the industry with government. When government is giving you a small amount of money, the government takes an interest.
This may sound a bit bizarre, but one of the reasons the rendering industry is not well known is that it has a fairly low profile. It was recognized over the last few years that it's important to be at the table when CFIA, Health Canada, and government agencies are making decisions. This is one of the reasons for being part of that program.
The answer to your question is, yes. One of the main priorities lately has been opening the market for tallow in China. Now, that has been opened in theory. In practice, it actually isn't open, because the Chinese have found means to.... They haven't blocked it, but there are still some restrictions in place.
These are major export markets, mainly for fats and oils. Certainly the industry likes to export as much as possible and has opened as many markets as possible, because it gives you some export stability and also the best prices, which are passed down through the chain.
NDP
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
I imagine that in the last few years, the process and the technology has changed quite dramatically. Is there a lot invested in research and development?
Government Affairs, Canadian Renderers Association
Actually, the rendering industry in North America acts as one industry. The CRA works with the NRA in the U.S. We have major contracts with Clemson University in the U.S. to do research looking for alternative uses for protein meals. Examples are biodegradable flower pots and car parts. All kinds of things can be made out of blood meal and protein meals. Currently a lot of these things cannot compete economically with plastics and so on, but this is the kind of research that's going on.
There's also a lot of research done at the University of Guelph on using protein meals in the aquaculture industry, such as using poultry meal for fish feed and things like that, to get the best return on investment.
Again, the rendering industry also goes into other alternative technologies, such as biogas incineration and so on, looking, as I say, to maximize returns and to recycle the materials in the most efficient way possible.
NDP
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mike, I just have a quick question. I notice you said that one of your challenges was that you wanted a definition for natural and organic in the U.S. versus Canada, those need to be established. That's something you'd like to see for sure.
NDP
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
So the commercial grade needs to be marked “contains growth hormones, antibiotics, etc., that would be harmful to your health,” just like cigarettes. I don't know if that's possible, but could you elaborate on that a little bit?
Chief Executive Officer, Beretta Organic Farms
I think years ago that statement in terms of cigarettes would have probably met with the same reaction, and now it's common knowledge. I'm just throwing that out and trying to be ahead of the curve here. I don't think we're going to be that far off. There will be research done that will reach the average consumer and their awareness about what's going into their meat supply, and the effects on health will become apparent. Yes, that was just a comment.
Chief Executive Officer, Beretta Organic Farms
Yes, and regarding the definition, a case in point under natural claims is that there's a very well-known product in the cattle industry called Rumensin, which is considered an ionophore in Canada. It's also considered an ionophore in the United States. However, ionophores are considered antibiotics in Canada and not in the U.S.
So in terms of natural programs, there are a few very large companies that have brought meat into Canada and are able to make antibiotic-free claims and still use a product called Rumensin, which we're not allowed to use in Canada. I wouldn't want to use it, but it's not allowed. So that would be a clear-cut example of why I think there needs to be a definition.
NDP
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
It's kind of like horses being slaughtered in Canada and the meat...that's kind of the same.
I know you worked a lot on that, Alex.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
Thank you.
I'd just ask for a clarification, Mr. Beretta.
Rumensin is just not allowed to be used under the organic banner, correct?
Chief Executive Officer, Beretta Organic Farms
No, under the natural as well in Canada.
Conservative
Chief Executive Officer, Beretta Organic Farms
With what we had to submit to CFIA to maintain our natural claims, Rumensin can never be used because it's considered an antibiotic.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
That's my point, you can't use it in order to keep your natural—
Conservative
Chief Executive Officer, Beretta Organic Farms
Yes. I'm just specifying natural and organic, and more than anything else, in comparison to the U.S. market.
Conservative
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Mike, what kind of organic products are you selling?
Chief Executive Officer, Beretta Organic Farms
Mostly meat. Beef is our main one and chicken, pork. We do a little bit of lamb and a little bit of turkey as well.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Is that right? Okay.
The question I wanted to ask is again related to supply management. Are you able to explain some of the special processes that you need to follow to maintain your organic status? These would be things that might be in addition to what a non-organic farmer would have to adhere to. Could you just to give us a feeling for what goes into the organic side of your business, and then we can look at how that impacts the consumer.