The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) attended the 13th Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) Multi-Stakeholder Partnership (MSP) meeting (The Agenda) in Thailand to provide a Canadian beef industry perspective in an international dialogue.
There were many highlights for the Canadian beef industry at this event, including opportunities to take the stage and share a Canadian perspective in discussions, and Evan Chaffe with the Beef Farmers of Ontario being named a Co-Chair of the new GASL Youth Advisory Group.
From October 30 to November 3, 2023, CCA’s Environment and Climate Change Coordinator, Mitchell Zoratti, attended various sessions on the Drivers of Livestock Systems Transformation, including geopolitical and socio-economic drivers, health and disease drivers, innovation and knowledge drivers, and environmental drivers. Mitchell participated as a panelist in “Livestock Production and Antimicrobial Use as a Driver of Change,” and built upon important connections with various livestock industry stakeholders from around the world that will be key to helping build our message that the world needs more, not less, sustainability produced foods like Canadian beef.
The Agenda is a partnership of public and private sectors, producers, research and academic institutions, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), social movements, community-based organizations, and foundations committed to the sustainable development of the livestock sector. The goal of The Agenda is to build consensus on the path towards sustainability and drive continuous improvement in the areas of global food security and health, equity and growth, and resources and climate.
The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) has been an active participant in The Agenda since 2019. It is an important forum of like-minded individuals and organizations, and a space to collaborate and discuss strategically how to best position livestock as a solution to food and nutrition security, livelihoods and economic growth, animal health and welfare, and climate and natural resource use. The Agenda’s focus areas are well aligned with our priorities, and it’s an excellent opportunity for Canada to engage and amplify the message that we are one of the most sustainable beef producers in the world.
Youth has started to become a focus area of The Agenda, where a GASL Youth Advisory Group (YAG) was formed earlier this year. We are pleased that Evan Chaffe with Beef Farmers of Ontario and Sydney Fortier with the Beef Cattle Research Council were appointed as the first North American YAG representatives. Click HERE to read more.
The Canadian beef industry young leaders continue to leave a lasting impression on the world stage as Evan Chaffe was recently named co-chair of YAG. This is a great opportunity for the Canadian beef industry, where Evan’s leadership will help set the tone and direction for youth involvement in sustainable livestock discussions. We continue to see a focus on youth at various international level agriculture and climate events and congratulate Evan on his leadership that will serve as another great way to bring international awareness to Canada’s industry-leading sustainability. We are proud of Evan’s previous involvement with the CCA’s Canadian Cattle Youth Council as a former Ontario Delegate.
CCA is appreciative of GASL’s generosity to support the travel costs of our Canadian young leaders at the meeting. In addition to CCA and YAG participation, GASL kindly sponsored representatives from CCA’s Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) mentorship program and Canadian Cattle Youth Council to participate in the event. CYLs in attendance included Addy Bolduc, Ashley Nicholls, Brooke Martin & Coleman Nixdorff, and Canadian Cattle Youth Council Past President, Charlene Yungblut. It served as an excellent professional and personal development opportunity, while showcasing the High caliber of young leaders involved in CCA’s youth programming.