North American livestock industry representatives met in Mexico last week to attend the annual general meeting of the Confederation of National Organizations of Ganaderas (CNOG) and a tripartite meeting of the parties.
Discussions focused on sustainable global trade that encourages efficient production practices, as well as protecting herds from animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and skin lumps, and new research. The idea was to advocate for increased oversight and regulation of indoor-grown proteins.
Leaders of the Canadian Beef Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and CNOG signed a joint statement Following the meeting, Cattle Australia also joined in signing the petition.
“Canadian beef producers are leaders in raising high-quality, sustainable beef for consumers in Canada and around the world. We work with partners around the world to address the challenges facing our industry and sustain We are committed to continuing to proudly serve beef produced in the best possible way,” said CCA President Nathan Finney, who attended the meeting.
The CCA said it also discussed the importance of market integration related to voluntary U.S. product labeling and the upcoming review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
The joint statement identified animal health as a major economic threat facing North American and Australian livestock industries. Notably, the global threat level of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is at an all-time high, with FMD present in regions of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America, the research group said.
“We call for urgent and sustained investment in critical national infrastructure and preparedness activities to prevent and ultimately respond to exotic animal disease outbreaks,” the statement reads. .
Countries will take these messages back to their policy makers.
The group discussed the growing demand for beef and new technologies such as lab-grown proteins made to mimic beef. “Although most of these technologies are still in the development stage and not commercially viable, it is important to ensure that these technologies are properly reviewed by regulatory authorities and pose potential risks to consumer health and food safety. It is very important that there is no such thing,” the statement said. To read.
The signatories emphasized the importance of understanding the long-term impacts of these emerging technologies on human health, nutrition and the environment.
“If approved, we must ensure that the marketing of lab-grown proteins is transparent and does not undermine the consumer trust we have built as cattle producers. Some lab-grown protein companies rely on derogatory advertising to differentiate their products, but the fact that their products do not come from conventional livestock production Some companies may choose to pay little attention. Regulators need to ensure that lab-grown proteins are clearly identified on packaging to prevent consumer confusion. A growing global consumer base wants access to safe, nutritious beef produced from cows raised sustainably and efficiently in natural environments rather than in bioreactors.” It’s in the statement.
