Beef quality assurance program provides peace of mind
/by Carissa Geddes
It’s no secret that consumers have more questions than ever about the processes that occur before their food reaches their dinner plate. More specifically, they want to know if the food they eat is ethically sourced and environmentally sustainable. How can producers provide consumers with this information?
Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) is a quality assurance program used by beef producers across Canada. VBP+ certification means being able to assure consumers and retailers that your operation is adhering to the highest standards for food safety, biosecurity, animal care, and environmental stewardship. The program allows producers to tell their stories and prove that they’re committing to what they say they’re doing through improved record keeping.
Enrolling in the VBP+ program is a relatively simple and stress-free process. First, you can get educated on the program and what’s required to be certified by reading through the VBP+ producer manual found on the national website (www.verifiedbeef.ca). Then, contact your VBP+ provincial coordinator and complete the VBP+ self-assessment form. Your regional coordinator will be able to inform you of the next steps involved in the certification process and get you set up for an on-site validation audit.
The idea of an on-farm audit may seem daunting to some producers working toward certification. However, we tend to forget that farmers and auditors are working toward the same end goal: continual improvement of an operation and its management. By the time most producers receive their audit, they are highly prepared. They have already completed their training and have undergone preparation for the audit with their provincial coordinator.
As well, what many producers do not realize is that they’re typically already doing what they’re supposed to be doing to be certified. The audit process is only used to determine where there’s still room for improvement. This usually includes updating any missing or incomplete records or introducing new, more efficient practices. When it is all said and done, the audit is no more than a casual conversation between a couple of individuals with the same goal in mind.
Once a producer has been certified through the VBP+ program, new opportunities are available. Recently, Farm Credit Canada (FCC) introduced its Sustainability Incentive Program, which includes a maximum payment of $2,000 to certified producers who are also FCC loan users.
Not only is there financial aid for VBP+ certified producers, but there are small-scale benefits, including the ability to direct-market products that are backed by a nationally recognized certification. To learn more about how your operation can become VBP+ certified and the certification process, visit the national website at www.verifiedbeef.ca or reach out to your provincial VBP+ coordinator.
(Carissa Geddes is working as a summer assistant with the Maritime Beef Council. Her family has a beef operation in Irishtown, N.B., and she’s been showing cattle for about 10 years. She was recently accepted into the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown and will begin her first year of the program this fall.)
