The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) held a global conference on sustainable beef in Ireland. The CRSB has developed a certification framework to advance and recognize sustainable beef production in Canada through an operation-level certification program. The framework includes standards for sustainable beef production and processing, assurance protocols, and chain of custody requirements. The CRSB has overseen audits of over 800 producers and 2 processors, and engaged stakeholders through multi-stakeholder committees and feedback. The CRSB is driving 10 sustainability goals in the environmental, social, and economic areas and has conducted baseline environmental inventories on 128,000 acres.

1. Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
1
Global Conference on Sustainable Beef
Kilkenny, Ireland

2. IMPACT
“to have a strong effect on someone or something”
– Google Dictionary
2

3. 3

4. Benchmarking and setting a path
for the future

5. SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY- GOALS
Overarching
Goal #1 Build a stronger and more united Canadian beef sustainability community
Environmental
Goal #2 Reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of Canadian beef per unit of product produced
Goal #3 Enhance ecosystem services and biodiversity on lands managed by beef producers
Goal #4 Enhance riparian health and reduce the water footprint of beef production
Goal #5 Reduce post-harvest meat waste
Social
Goal #6 Promote farm safety and responsible working conditions
Goal #7 Promote excellence in animal care
Goal #8 Support the further development, monitoring and dissemination of best practices
regarding antimicrobial use
Economic
Goal #9 Increase the financial viability of beef production in Canada
Goal #10 Increase demand for Canadian beef through consumer awareness of sustainable
beef production

6. MISSION: driving the advancement and recognition of beef sustainability in Canada
through a world class operation-level certification program
Certification Framework
1. The Standards:
• Sustainable Beef Production Standard
• Sustainable Beef Processing Standard
2. Assurance Protocols
• Guidance and requirements for the certification
process
3. Chain of Custody Requirements
• Requirements for tracking cattle, beef and claims
about beef sourced from Certified Operations through
the supply chain
4. Sustainability Claims
• Guidance on how to communicate about the
Framework, sustainable sourcing and CRSB’s
initiatives

7. Certification Framework
Producer
audits
>800
Logo
use
1
Processor
audits
2
Development
2.5 years
Multi-
stakeholder
committees
>70 ppl
Member and
public
feedback
>350
Consumer
research
>1500

8. SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS
Baseline environmental inventories on 128,000 acres

9. 9
Membership

10. PRODUCER ENGAGEMENT
10

11. Producer Engagement
• Membership (29%)
• Council/committees (22%)
• Farm/ranch tours at CRSB events
• Collaborations with existing initiatives
11

12. CONSUMERS
12

13.  © Hill+Knowlton Strategies13
Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
2%
6%
8%
14%
66%
5
4
3
2
1
Very familiar
Not familiar at all
8% Familiar
How familiar are you with the CRSB?
4%
Don’t know
Scale 1 to 5: 5, Very familiar; 4, Familiar; 3, Somewhat familiar; 2, Slightly familiar; 1, Not familiar at all; Don`t know

14.  © Hill+Knowlton Strategies14
Re-test impressions of “beef sustainability”
15%
53%
21%
2%
3%
5
4
3
2
1
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree
68% Agree
Agree / disagree: In general, I would trust products with labels indicating they have CRSB
sustainability certification.
6%
Don’t know
5% Disagree
Scale 1 to 5: 5, Strongly agree; 4, Agree; 3, Neutral; 2, Disagree; 1, Strongly disagree; Don’t know

15. For more information, visit:
www.crsb.ca/
E-mail: hadaritsm@cattle.ca