Government could help the sector perform even better.Ottawa—As a world leader in sustainable production, Canadian beef producers are well positioned to help fill the global protein demand and meet the federal government's 2030 target for reducing carbon emissions, says Ryder Lee, CEO of the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA).Canada has already achieved one of the lowest greenhouse gas intensities for beef in the world, Lee told the Commons agriculture committee. The sector is aiming to reduce the emission intensity of Canadian beef by 33 per cent by 2030, which puts it on track to meet or exceed the government's absolute target.That means beef producers are improving their efficiency while easing the global food security crisis “by feeding the world's demand for beef with the most sustainable option,” he said.“If Canada's cattle production is reduced, the world may be left more dependent on less environmentally friendly beef from other nations. The world needs more environmentally friendly food products, not fewer, and Canada has a competitive advantage when it comes to producing high-quality sustainable beef.”To perform even better cattle producers “need government to work with us to achieve our goals and to speak proudly of beef production here in Canada. The world needs more highly nutritious protein, and the world needs more Canadian beef.”Government can help the sector deal with trade, labour shortage and sustainability issues, Lee said. “Trade is important for food security as it increases utilization and consumer choice, increasing food options at home and abroad.“The year 2021 was the sixth year in a row of hitting record export values. Canada produced 181,000 tonnes of cattle and 1,381 thousand tonnes of beef, of which 50 per cent was exported. This volume is up 3.8 per cent compared to 2020.”Canada exports beef cuts not used or purchased much domestically so it can obtain a higher price. It imports cuts that have strong demand here but that Canada does not produce enough of. “We import about 20 per cent of our annual beef consumption. In essence, trade allows us to decrease food loss and meet consumer needs in Canada and around the world,” Lee said.“We export beef to vast regions of the world due to demand. Despite this increasing demand for protein, there are threats that impact our ability to produce, including chronic labour shortages. The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council is developing a long-term strategic plan to address the industry's chronic worker issues. The beef industry is involved in the process. We're optimistic the plan will offer a strategy for all stakeholders.”While beef production methods differ by region and landscape, they contribute to Canada's economy and food supply while conserving and protecting Canada's environment, Lee said. “Our industry recognizes that we can't separate the food security crisis from the climate crisis, because how we respond to one will impact how we are able to respond to the other.”The industry is hindered by federal meat regulations enacted in 2003 when BSE was discovered in Canada. While Canada now is considered a low risk for the disease, the left-over rules “make it pretty certain that new slaughter plant capacity isn't going to be built on this side of the U.S. border until we get our regulations aligned with the U.S.”