On Tuesday, the federal government announced an investment of over $6 million to help the Canadian pork industry harness innovation to boost production, strengthen public trust, and expand markets for Canadian pork at home and abroad.

“The Canadian pork Industry has been instrumental in establishing consumer trust in Canadian pork and helping expand markets at home and abroad," said Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. "Our Government is committed to working with industry to build a stronger and more innovative pork sector, while improving competitiveness and fostering continued economic growth for our middle-class.”

The investment was made under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

“The projects announced today further strengthen the Canadian Pork Excellence platform and contribute to growing the Canadian economy," said Rick Bergmann, Canadian Pork Council Chair. "Canadian pork producers take great pride in producing the nutritious, high quality pork that is in high demand in markets around the world. Our on-farm food safety and animal care programs enable producers to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable pork production.”

Over $3.8 million through AgriAssurance will help launch on-farm programs for food safety, traceability and animal care and ensure compliance for the PigTrace program. Under AgriMarketing, $1.2 million will help promote and expand markets for Canadian pork and $1.1 million under AgriScience will help producers increase their production with efficient feeding strategies.

In 2018, Canada’s pork sector exports were valued at $4 billion and is a top-three exporter of pork in the world.