(Image generated using AI)

A renewed five-year strategy is aiming to strengthen collaboration, innovation and the adoption of research across Canada’s beef sector.

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) and its industry partners released the Five-Year Canadian Beef Research & Knowledge Mobilization Strategy on July 16, outlining a coordinated national framework for research and knowledge mobilization.

The strategy is intended to better align investments, accelerate innovation and ensure research outcomes lead to measurable benefits for beef producers, the broader value chain and the public.

It will guide investments by the BCRC and other Canadian beef research funding agencies, with a focus on improving efficiency and coordinating limited funding toward high-priority research, capacity and extension objectives.

Through a portfolio approach, the strategy is designed to encourage greater collaboration among funding agencies while ensuring key priorities across the sector are addressed.

The strategy supports the ambitious 10-year goals outlined in the National Beef Strategy and builds on previous research and technology transfer strategies.

The development process included extensive engagement with the Canadian beef industry. More than 500 stakeholders from across the country participated through surveys, focus groups and engagement sessions.

Participants included beef producers, veterinarians, researchers, government representatives, industry organizations, funders and extension specialists.

The renewed strategy identifies priorities in seven key areas:

• Cattle nutrition and production efficiency
• Forage and feed production
• Animal health, welfare and antimicrobial resistance
• Food safety
• Beef quality
• Environmental sustainability
• Knowledge mobilization

The BCRC says the strategy is designed to support the adoption of beneficial practices and innovations, increase producer profitability and sector resilience, advance the quality and safety of Canadian beef, support science-based decision-making and encourage innovation across the industry.

The strategy also recognizes the importance of maintaining and renewing research capacity and infrastructure needed to support long-term innovation in the Canadian beef sector.

The BCRC is funded through a portion of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off.

The full Five-Year Canadian Beef Research & Knowledge Mobilization Strategy, along with summaries of the seven program areas, is available through the Beef Cattle Research Council.

(Source: Beef Cattle Research Council)
For information about the Beef Cattle Research Council, visit their website at www.beefresearch.ca.