A bid to boost sales of Canadian dairy, sheep and goat genetics in export markets has picked up seven-figure federal funding.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz on Wednesday announced $1.6 million for the Canadian Livestock Genetics Association (CLGA), mainly to help the association achieve its target of increasing sales and exports of dairy genetics by 10 per cent by next year.
The CLGA said it plans to use the funding for promotion, training and education work, aimed at differentiating Canadian genetics from that of competitors in 45 export markets.
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Canada’s dairy, sheep and goat industries last year generated over $120 million in export revenue.
The partnership between CLGA and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada allowed the association and its members to develop new markets and grow the total market to over $123 million, CLGA executive director Michael Hall said in a federal release.
“This in turn provides revenue opportunities to 12,750 dairy producers and more than 1,000 sheep breeders and 450 goat breeders across Canada,” Hall said.
The money will come through the Market Development stream of AAFC’s AgriMarketing program, a five-year, $341-million initiative within the federal/provincial Growing Forward 2 ag policy funding framework. — AGCanada.com Network
