The Canadian Poultry Market
Diners’ interests in what is not on the plate continues to compete with what is; more than ever, consumers want healthier items that are free of hormones, antibiotics and other harmful additives. This is especially the case with chicken since it is one of the go-to protein sources for health-conscious individuals. Eating clean, however, is not just a health matter as many consumers have also expressed concern for the consequences that their menu choices have on animal safety and the Canadian economy.
Canadian consumers can be happy to know that chicken enjoys the best reputation out of all meat sources in Canada. It is the first food whose safety assurance program is recognized and fully backed by every level of the Canadian government. The program is mandatory in all provinces and territories, which ensures that 100 per cent of chicken farmers are safety certified.
When it comes to protecting chickens’ safety, the Chicken Farmers of Canada organization enforces the Animal Care Program (ACP), an auditable program which sets stringent regulations to protect the living standards of Canada’s farm chickens. Currently, 97 per cent of Canadian farmers are certified in the program. Fuelling economic growth in Canadian chicken production, Ontario recently announced the full digitization of poultry transaction records. The new digital system is called CFO Connects and promises to standardize how the Ontario chicken supply chain operates. It offers drastic improvement to the traceability and efficiency of record-keeping — simplifying a cumbersome pen-and-paper process which was previously fraught with errors.
From nearly all angles, chicken’s future in the Canadian food industry seems promising, but deeper within the poultry supply chain, there is conflict from three sides — each with its own unique obstacles — that requires a cooperative resolution for poultry to remain a viable protein source for the nation.
