Cargill and its customers have renewed a program that would ensure beef producers receive at least $400 for being certified under the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB).
The program, piloted last year, tops up payments of Cargill’s qualifying cattle credits for animals processed in 2023 to $400. It will be paid to certified operations regardless of if those cattle were ultimately sold to Cargill, the CRSB said in a news release today.
Producers who received $400 or more in credits last year won’t qualify.
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Operations don’t need to apply for the top-up credit, the CRSB said. If they had an active certification at the beginning of the year, they can expect payment in April.
Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef chair Ryan Beierbach thanked Cargill and its customers.
“We think the CRSB Certified program is one important tool for the Canadian beef sector to demonstrate continuous improvement, and the CRSB hopes other organizations will formally recognize its value,” he said in the news release.
While demand for certified sustainable beef is reportedly high, the program has seen criticism for low return on investment to cattle producers.
Animals have also been found to ‘drop out’ of the certification system, which requires them to pass through certified operations at every step on the value chain—one factor behind updates to the CRSB’s tracking system late last year.
“In 2024, CRSB will prioritize identifying long-term solutions to ensure certification provides financial value and enduring benefit to producer participation,” Beierbach said.
Funding for the CRSB Certification Recognition Credit is provided by Cargill, Centennial Food Solutions, Gordon Food Service, Intercity Packers, MacGregors Meat & Seafood, McDonald’s Canada, Metro, Recipe Unlimited and Walmart
