Canadian milk and dairy products are world-renowned for their excellence, variety and high-quality, thanks to farmers and processors who follow the highest standards for safety, quality, and animal welfare. A strong and competitive dairy industry is vital to Canada’s prosperity, creating good jobs, growing the middle class, and bringing high-quality dairy products to the tables of consumers here in Canada and around the world.
Jean-Claude Poissant, Parliamentary Secretary on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay, speaking at the Dairy Farmers of Quebec Annual General Meeting, today announced an investment of over $2.2 million under the Growing Forward 2, AgriMarketing Program, to assist the Dairy Farmers of Canada roll out an on-farm customer assurance program and a national traceability system for the dairy sector.
Quotes
“Canada’s dairy farmers are a pillar for growth, job creation, and innovation across the country. The Government of Canada is proud to invest in the dairy sector to help increase consumer confidence in Canadian dairy products, while ensuring our farmers continue to deliver safe, high quality milk and dairy products.
– Jean-Claude Poissant, Member of Parliament for La Prairie
“Dairy farmers are proud of the care that goes into the nutritious and quality milk they produce for Canadians, which is why we are so pleased by today’s announcement. The government has shown their commitment to working with dairy farmers to provide consumers with the knowledge that we have very high standards in Canada for dairy cattle traceability, so they can better understand where their food comes from.”
– Pierre Lampron, President of Dairy Farmers of Canada
Quick Facts
- The Dairy Farmers of Canada represents more than 12,000 dairy producers across the country who account for more than $6 billion in cash receipts. It is fully industry supported and provides national policy and promotions representing all dairy sectors.
- Both projects were funded under the Growing Forward 2, AgriMarketing program, which provides support to national associations for the development of assurance systems or standards, such as food safety, traceability and plant and animal health surveillance systems, and market attributes/quality standards.
- Under the first project, DFC received $1,094,789 to implement the ProAction Initiative, developed to help the dairy industry increase compliance, and responds to key issues for consumers today.
- Under the second project, DFC received $1,033,010 to develop and implement a national traceability program for the dairy sector, enabling dairy farms to meet national traceability regulatory requirements.
- The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3 billion investment by federal-provincial and territorial governments, which will strengthen the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector, ensuring continued innovation, growth and prosperity. The Partnership replaced Growing Forward 2 which ended in April 2018.
Source: Newswire
