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CASI to help farmers show sustainability

Last week, Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, spoke at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s (CFA) annual general meeting in support of the sector’s efforts to boost sustainability and build public trust. During her speech, the minister announced a federal investment of $560,000 for the CFA to develop the Canadian Agri-Food Sustainability Initiative (CASI). This new initiative will provide Canadian farmers and processors an online national platform to proactively meet the growing demand for proof of sustainability from customers.

With this support, the CFA will create a single location for data on the sustainability of the Canadian agri-food supply chain. This will provide a forum where producers and processors can share information and connect with networks interested in sustainability. This initiative will also serve as a hub to benchmark and track the sustainability of the Canadian agri-food industry compared to international standards.

Ultimately, CASI will support Canadian food producers’ use of label claims about the safety and quality of their food products.

“More and more, customers want to know that their food was produced ethically, with a minimized impact on the environment,” Bibeau said in a press release. “Canada’s farmers and processors are already leaders when it comes to the use of green technologies and practices in our food production. This new initiative is an important tool to tell our story and build consumers’ trust for our producers.”