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Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday April 26, 2022

Apr 26, 2022 | 10:11 AM

MELFORT, Sask. — Canada’s livestock sector will receive federal funding to find ways to increase export opportunities.

Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced $3.6 million to support Canada Beef’s efforts to bolster Canada’s global beef brand and build stronger relationships with its global trading partners.

Canada Beef president Michael Young said the ability to partner with the government to fund and deliver important programs is appreciated especially as the pandemic and world events contribute to an ever-evolving marketplace.

The project will also support training and e-learning activities at the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence to help industry increase knowledge around the advantages of Canadian beef, promote the excellence of Canadian beef and help to increase public trust in beef products.

Research into sunflower processing options will increase availability of non-allergenic ingredients in Canada.

Burcon NutraScience and Pristine Gourmet, with a co-investment from Protein Industries Canada, are part of a project that will determine how best to extract as much protein as possible from the crop.

Sunflower’s natural neutral colour and taste, along with its lack of allergens, makes it an ideal crop for the development of new ingredients for plant-based products.

Protein Industries Canada CEO Bill Greuel said this is the most recent example of Canadian businesses driving change across the plant-based food and ingredients sector.

“Together, they’re substantially increasing the potential food uses of Canada’s sunflowers, increasing the value of the crop and strengthening our economy and supply chain,” Greuel said.

Canadian sunflower protein is primarily used in livestock feed and pet food.

More than 41 Saskatchewan municipalities and communities will receive $15.3 million in phase four of the Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG) program.

It provides financial support to RMs with the cost of constructing and upgrading rural infrastructure, which helps local industries including agriculture, energy, and forestry.

The program grant covers up to 50 per cent of each project’s total cost, to a maximum of $500,000.

Phase 4 will include 56 road projects valued at $43.2 million.

alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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