Canadians recently hosted nearly 225
beef value chain stakeholders from 15 countries at Banff, Alta., where they
pondered ideas to improve the industry.
The Conference was co-hosted by the
Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) and the Canadian Roundtable for
Sustainable Beef (CRSB).
“We were delighted with the mixture
of people that attended the conference,” said Dennis Laycraft, president of the
global organization.
“We covered a number of critical
industry topics on beef sustainability and fostered discussions that brought
people together.
“With that, I think we achieved what
we had hoped for – we are bringing more interest and recognition to
sustainability and the role of the beef industry.”
Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, a rancher
from Alberta and chair of the Canadian organization, said “Canada was honored
to co-host this forward-thinking conference and pleased to showcase the work
being done here."
The CRSB also held its annual general
meeting where the following people were elected:
Bob Lowe, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and Alberta Beef
Producers, and Greg Bowie,
Alberta Beef Producers, will represent producers and processors.
Frank
Middleton will represent processors.
Jeff
Fitzpatrick-Stilwell of McDonald’s Canada will
represent retail and food service
companies.
Tim Hardman of the World Wildlife Fund will represent
non-governmental organizations.
Jodi Banks of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Sean Royer of the Alberta Agriculture
and Forestry department were both appointed by Council to fill the ex-officio
seats.
Cherie
Copithorne-Barnes is chair of the CRSB.
