Analysing study on animal agriculture in Canada

Livestock industry futures requires new thinking and bold ideas, panelists say

By Lilian Schaer for Livestock Research Innovation Corporation

A panel of experts suggests Canadian animal agriculture needs to change its thinking around how it approaches research, innovation, and attracting and keeping people in the sector as industry, government and academia look to a future that offers both challenges and opportunities. 

The panel was convened by Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) to discuss a recent report by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) which found that while livestock are an important part of the Canadian economy and environment, the industry is threatened by growing risks from disease, loss of land or markets, extreme weather, and an unbalanced public discourse around the world’s protein needs. 

Panelists included Dr. Christine Baes, Chair of the Department of Animal BioSciences at the University of Guelph; Helen Ann Hudson, Senior Advisor on Corporate Social Responsibility at Burnbrae Farms Ltd.; and Stephen Duff, Chief Economist at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs. 

What struck you as you read the report? 
Stephen Duff: It is very clear to me that we need to get the message out about the livestock industry’s significant contribution, but I also think the report missed a number of key points that need to be expanded on. When you look at competitiveness, we are good at converting feed, but our capital structure is over-capitalized, so we aren’t as competitive as we think we are. There are a lot of nuances in a document like this that get missed, but overall the message is important, and we need to advance it. 

Christine Baes: What struck me probably most is the $20.5 billion economic impact that animal agriculture has. I have heard the CEO of Ontario Genomics talk about the $13 billion opportunity that is cellular agriculture. The market that used to be ours is opening up and there are other people who know humans want to eat and they want protein. We are good at producing protein and that market is not ours alone anymore, so we have to do the best that we can to make sure that we are sustainable in terms of economics, ethics, societal acceptability and the environment.  

Helen Ann Hudson: I was excited to read about the emissions factors for livestock and how low they are. Today, there is so much focus on net zero claims, but what does that mean? Animal agriculture in Canada is already so efficient. Emissions are everybody’s problem, and we need to be part of the process to get to net zero, but we need to keep some balance in mind. We need to be promoting the quality of our protein and showing off our advantages a little bit better. Just Egg has a (plant-based egg) product that has six grams of protein which is like an egg but their amino acid profile is no where near that of a real egg. 

Who needs to do what coming out of this report?
Hudson: We need to find a way to collectively use it. There is a lot of information that would inform consumers so it’s about communications and consumer messaging. Who should lead this? We are all doing consumer education but is it effective? We need to measure our success a bit better.

Baes: Every single one of us should be visionary leaders. We all have a vested interest in all parts of this industry even if we don’t get up at 4 am to milk cows. So what can we all do within our respective roles to help improve? From a University of Guelph standpoint, we should work together across the colleges like thinking about a protein institute and what can be done across proteins. 

Duff: For me, the paper identifies several knowledge gaps which I think all of us can advance. The paper shows we’re a low emissions producer, which is great for us, but is it really true? We have to be really innovative, and this paper starts at that, like the industry scorecard or the sustainability index that CAPI is leading. 

What is are the barriers causing Canada to fall behind?  
Baes: It’s not as bad as we think. When we have something good, we accept it quickly. Canada is the first country in the world, for example, to have a breeding value for methane. Agriculture in Canada is responsible for 10% of GHG emissions nationwide; we aren’t the biggest problem but if we are socially aware, that’s an important dialogue and the barriers come out of our own ranks. We scoff at the vegans and vegetarians but they’re not getting any fewer so we should listen instead of trying to educate. 

Hudson: Regulations. Innovation takes a long time, and we need good support for research to allow innovation to happen. 

Duff: Innovation can often be driven by necessity, so we focus on things that can make us more efficient. I’m not sure I buy the assertion that we are lagging. There are examples but does it mean they are prevalent? Our sector tends to be more negative than positive if you’re around it long enough and it isn’t always welcoming to new people wanting to come into it. That can be a challenge, but it’s not exclusive to agriculture – the trades are an example of that as well. 

What do you think needs to be done with regards to innovation?
Baes: The University of Guelph is a fantastic place to be, and we do amazing research, but our building is falling apart, so we are trying to recruit the world’s best minds to a place where you will be sitting in a windowless basement for three years. We are grateful for the beautiful (research) stations we already have but if we want to be world class for the next 20 to 30 years, we need to put our heads together and we have to do better. It will take effort and money. A PhD student gets $30,000 a year and they pay $10,000 - $20,000 a year in tuition. There are other opportunities for these smart minds; they could work for Google. 

Hudson: We need to be doing innovation. I see a real problem with people in the workforce. We need to be reviving agricultural engineering, we need mechanization to get people to work in our plants, and we need artificial intelligence in our barns to help us manage birds and other livestock so we can improve on the metrics that we have. 

Duff: Priorities change a lot, and they are often unclear and hard to follow. We need continued focus from industry, government and universities with respect to research agendas. There is a need for more directed research instead of general calls and universities should be more prepared to provide analysis and more effort with respect to adoption. We don’t have the extension resources we used to, and certainly not the farm business management resources – so whose role is it? 

The CAPI study Forces Impacting Animal Agriculture in Canada: A Synthesis was funded by LRIC, Grand River Agricultural Society, UFA Co-operative, Dairy Farmers of Canada and Canadian Cattle Association. Livestock Research Innovation Corporation is funded in part by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial initiative. This article is provided by LRIC as part of its ongoing efforts to report on research, innovation, and issues affecting the Canadian livestock industry.

This article was first published in the June 2024 edition of Milk Producer.