The grocer said in a release that from now on, the CRSB Certified Mass Balance mark will be displayed on all beef products across its Platinum Grill Angus Canadian AAA Beef Program, available in all 131 Metro stores in Ontario.

The CRSB Certified program provides credible assurances for the production, processing and sourcing of beef through certified supply chains in Canada. This means verifying outcomes across five areas of sustainability that include conserving and enhancing natural resources (land, water and air); supporting people and communities; best practices in animal care; food safety and quality, and embracing efficiencies and innovation that foster continual improvement.

Metro Ontario said these focus areas align closely with “multiple elements” of its priorities when it comes to responsible procurement.

Ryan Beierbach, chair of the CRSB and a CRSB Certified rancher from Saskatchewan said in a release that by displaying the CRSB Certified Mass Balance mark on-pack, “Metro shows their customers they are making positive contributions through their food choices.”

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The program, piloted last year, tops up payments of Cargill’s qualifying cattle credits for animals processed in 2023 to $400. It will be paid to certified operations regardless of if those cattle were ultimately sold to Cargill, the CRSB said in a news release today.

Producers who received $400 or more in credits last year won’t qualify.

Operations don’t need to apply for the top-up credit, the CRSB said. If they had an active certification at the beginning of the year, they can expect payment in April.

Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef chair Ryan Beierbach thanked Cargill and its customers.

“We think the CRSB Certified program is one important tool for the Canadian beef sector to demonstrate continuous improvement, and the CRSB hopes other organizations will formally recognize its value,” he said in the news release.

While demand for certified sustainable beef is reportedly high, the program has seen criticism for low return on investment to cattle producers.

Animals have also been found to ‘drop out’ of the certification system, which requires them to pass through certified operations at every step on the value chain—one factor behind updates to the CRSB’s tracking system late last year.

“In 2024, CRSB will prioritize identifying long-term solutions to ensure certification provides financial value and enduring benefit to producer participation,” Beierbach said.

Funding for the CRSB Certification Recognition Credit is provided by Cargill, Centennial Food Solutions, Gordon Food Service, Intercity Packers, MacGregors Meat & Seafood, McDonald’s Canada, Metro, Recipe Unlimited and Walmart

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“This update sets us up for continued progress to support beef farmers and supply chain participants to build trust in the
sustainability of Canadian beef,” said Kristine Tapley, chair of CRSB’s Framework Committee, in a new release.

The framework was launched in 2017 as a bid to recognize and monetize sustainable beef production practices. It came up for a scheduled five-year review in 2022.

The CRSB said a committee, composed of representatives from across the beef supply chain, reviewed all parts of the framework. It also got input from stakeholders, experts and the public.

This included a thorough review of the CRSB’s standards for production and processing; strengthened and protocols for certification to improve clarity and consistency; updates to chain of custody requirements; and how CRSB claims are enabled.

The claims associated with certified operations and sourced CRSB certified beef were also updated.

As of October, the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) is providing tracking of live cattle (outside of Quebec) for the program.

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