On December 14, 2020 the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) announced that the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Quality Assurance Program had successfully completed an assessment by the CRSB’s Oversight Body, NSF International, and has been approved as a Certification Body for the Certified Sustainable Beef Framework’s Sustainable Beef Production Standard for beef feedlot operations in Ontario.

With the recent announcement that the Cargill Guelph facility had been approved as a processing facility, the opportunity was significantly enhanced for Ontario feedlots to access a growing market for Certified Sustainable beef in Ontario.

The vision of the Ontario Cattle Feeders Association, is to ensure the long-term viability of cattle production in Ontario. This vision led to the development of the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Program in 2001. The program has grown to over 325,000 head of cattle annually and is now one of the largest farmer owned beef programs in Canada, recognized around the world for consistent quality and taste.

“The Ontario Corn Fed Beef program has a long-standing partnership with the Cargill Guelph facility, and we look forward to leveraging this partnership to build its supply of beef from CRSB Certified farms,” says Jim Clark, Executive Director of Ontario Cattle Feeders Association and the Ontario Corn Fed Beef program. “With over 500 feedlots in Ontario already certified under the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Quality Assurance program and strong retail and foodservice partners who have been very clear in their desire to source certified sustainable beef in Ontario, we have a strong base to start with,” says Clark.

“Part of the blueprint for the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Program has been strong program leadership when it comes to on-farm quality assurances as it relates to our brand, our producers, our processor and retail partners, right down to the consumers who buy our branded beef products to serve their families”

“The Ontario Cattle Feeders Association is committed to providing access to market opportunities for Ontario’s cattle producers which contribute to enhancing the viability of the sector for future generations. “Partnering with CRSB provides our producers an opportunity to supply beef from CRSB Certified farms and be recognized for their dedication to responsible beef production.” says Clark

The market demand for beef raised according to sustainability standards, as set by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) continues to increase.
With the ability of the Cargill Guelph facility to process and track cattle originating from CRSB Certified farms and ranches, the Ontario cattle and beef industry is well positioned to meet this increasing market demand.

If you are interested in having your feedlot become a CRSB Certified Operation, please contact OCFA at [email protected] and ask for more information on how to become certified

Click here to learn more about the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef www.certifiedcrsb.ca
Click here to learn more about Cargill’s Certified Sustainable Beef Initiative https://www.cargillsustainablebeef.ca/

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How can I get my feedlot eligible for CRSB certification?

Feedlots who are currently certified under the OCFBQA program simply need to contact the OCFA office to schedule a CRSB training session and an on-site audit with an OCFB QA auditor.

Feedlots who are not currently registered under the OCFB QA program but wish to become certified for OCFBQA and/or OCFBQA CRSB certification can also contact the OCFA office to schedule a training session and an on-site audit with an OCFB QA auditor.

There are no fees for audit services for feedlots wishing to become certified under OCFBQA and/or OCFBQA CRSB certification. Both OCFBQA and CRSB audits are performed in a single audit process.

For more information contact us at [email protected]

What is the market demand for CRSB certified sustainable beef?

The market demand for CRSB Certified beef – and thus cattle from CRSB Certified Operations–is constantly growing with steady customer interest.

For more information on market demand for cattle from CRSB Certified Operations contact your Cargill cattle buyer.

How do I ensure my cattle will qualify as certified sustainable beef?

In order for cattle to qualify as certified sustainable in the Cargill processing facilities, they must have moved through a fully-certified supply chain. This means the birth ranch, backgrounding facility and the feedlot need to be audited according to the CRSB Certified Sustainable Beef Framework. To guarantee eligibility for this sourcing program, you would need to coordinate the purchase and/or sale of your cattle from/to other certified operations.

Currently, the other CRSB-approved certification bodies are VBP+ and Where Food Comes From. Your supply chain partners would need to have been audited and certified by either of these organizations.

Is there a producer credit offered by Cargill for CRSB certified cattle?

Yes, at this time Cargill is offering a credit payment for all cattle processed in either the Cargill High River or Cargill Guelph facility that meet the CRSB requirements, verified at each stage of the supply chain. All producers that moved these eligible cattle through their certified operations will receive credit payments for each confirmed move-in, as tracked via CCIA ear tags.

This credit payment is made possible thanks to funding by participating customers like McDonald’s Canada, Loblaws, Cactus Club Café, Recipe Unlimited (Harvey’s) Chop Steakhouse & Bar and Gordon Food Service Canada who share Cargill’s appreciation for the dedication shown by producers that have gone the extra mile to demonstrate the sustainability of our Canadian beef industry through this verification system.

How do I benefit from financial credits from Cargill?

Ensure that your cattle are from CRSB Certified Operations at all points in the supply chain.
Register for TrustBIX, ensuring your contact information is up to date, and authorize your auditor and TrustBIX to include your cattle’s data in anonymous aggregated reporting.

When buying/selling cattle, provide the cattle movement information, including age-verification and move-in reporting; this is required to determine your qualification and enable credit payments for qualifying cattle post-harvest.

According to TrustBix, Cargill Sustainable Beef sourcing program (CSB) has paid over $1 Million in financial credit payments to producers since its inception in 2018.

Do I have to share my data with TrustBIX?

You do not need to share your data with TrustBIX in order to be recognized as a CRSB Certified feedlot or to have your cattle contribute to a sustainable beef supply chain; however, at this time in order to be eligible to receive the financial credit payments awarded for beef that qualifies for a CRSB Claim by Cargill on behalf of their participating customers, you do need to register with TrustBIX and share basic information (your contact information and RFID ear tag movements within the CCIA database). No additional information is required to be eligible. Visit www.trustbix.com for more information