Latest beef research strategy seeks greater industry support to tackle sector challenges

Cluster concept well received

Latest beef research strategy seeks greater industry support to tackle sector challenges

The beef industry has developed an updated, multi-disciplinary research strategy to assist the sector in addressing a wide range of high-priority objectives and aligning the mosaic of geographically disbursed research funding agencies. Developed by the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) in conjunction with the Beef Value Chain Roundtable, the Canadian Beef Research and Technology Transfer Strategy: 2018-2023 seeks to avoid funding duplication and enhance adoption of research results while expanding global markets.

The strategy comes at a time of declining per capita beef consumption in Canada and growing international opportunities as an expanding global population seeks sustainable protein sources. Building on a 2012 National Beef Research Strategy, the new document allows unfinished research projects to be completed and identifies areas where more funding is required. It also includes a proposed formula to boost the industry funding for research.

"We are an export dependent nation and 40% to 50% of our beef production is exported. We can't compete on a price-per-pound basis with nations like Brazil or India but our beef is better," says Dr Reynold Bergen, BCRC's scientific director. "We're competing with the US and Australians so we need a competitive production system and marketing competitiveness. We have to tell a compelling story and spread it globally."

The beef industry funds research through a national check-off system that levies $1 per animal. The majority is devoted to marketing and promotion and 18 cents goes to R&D.

"There are more than 30 research funders in Canada. It's kind of a mess," says Bergen. "We surveyed all of them for research priorities and projects funded over five years (and) found that none of the groups communicated with each other. There's a problem of flavour of the month and each source has limited resources."

The issue of duplication became increasing evident to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) which responded by developing a clusters concept for beef in 2009 which was renewed in 2013.

Funding under the Beef Cattle Industry Science Cluster (2013-2018) totaled $20 million, with $14 million coming from AAFC and $5 million from the research allocation of the National Check-off and provincial beef industry groups. Funding was directed to 26 research projects to be completed by the end of FY17-18.

"Agriculture (AAFC) has great scientists, resources and facilities but they don't have great connections to industry," says Bergen. "We do applied research but we have no scientists or facilities. By working with Agriculture we harness the best of both worlds."

Boost research support from industry

The cluster strategy has been well received by industry but the levels of funding remain inadequate, adding pressure to increase the national check-off to $1.50 in the short term and later rising to $2.50. Bergen says a $2.50 check-off would boost the R&D component to 60 cents per animal and allow beef researchers to tackle areas typically outside private sector-supported project.

"We're doing more research in peripheral areas that industry usually left to government ... These areas include policy and regulation, food safety, environmental impact and anti-microbial resistance," says Bergen. "The current government industry leverage is 75:25 and we'd like to change that to 50:50. It's a challenge from the industry point-of-view."

The National Beef Research Inventory reports that between 2012 and 2015, $127.4 million in research was performed via 557 projects funded by 13 organizations. That's up from 2007 to 2011 when $93 million was spent on 593 projects supported by 23 organizations.

BCRC will also expand efforts to use its funding to leverage more basic research funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

"We fund very applied research which is very close to being useful by ranchers and processors, whereas NSERC is a basic research funder," he says. "We're at the end of the hose but basic research ultimately comes out of this innovation pipeline."

Another challenge addressed by the strategy is research talent. Bergen notes that, for the first time, the current crop of beef researchers are urbanites or immigrants who didn't grow up on a farm.

"Many have no innate understanding of agriculture and interaction with producers," he says. "We've developed a research mentorship program for new researchers."

Solving productivity and environmental challenges

In 2015, Canada was a signatory to a G20 agriculture ministers' communique citing the need for social, economic and environmental targets required for increased productivity in beef production. For nations like Canada to compete, research must strive to use fewer resources while achieving productivity gains.

An OECD food and agricultural review recommended that Canada must improve incentives for private investment, improve capacities and services for innovation, remove unintended impediments to innovations and strengthen direct incentives.

The report noted that while "current progress is positive" in Canada's efforts in reducing the environmental footprint of beef production, "opportunities remain for continued improvements".

Beef cattle genetics offer potential gains in advancing quality, disease resistance, and feed and reproductive efficiencies. Advancements in animal health and welfare are also highlighted, including "new strategies and vaccines for disease management, parasite control, reduced antimicrobial use and the development of effective antimicrobial alternatives".

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