BY RAY BAYNTON

A McDonald’s Canada spokesman says the restaurant chain is committed to buying sustainable beef from Canadian producers.

But Jeff Fitzpatrick-Stilwell says the company has no plans to set up it’s own sustainability standard.

He says McDonald’s is running a pilot project on sustainable beef production involving nearly 100 Canadian producers – including a number here in Ontario.

That project is due to wrap up next April.

Fitzpatrick-Stilwell says the results will be passed along to the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.

He represents McDonald’s on that Roundtable.

He says he expects McDonald’s globally will be make it’s first purchases of sustainable beef from Canadian producers.

​Hear the interview and see the full article here.

McDonald’s Corporation is offering up to $20,000 in funding for organizations and members of the Canadian beef community for projects that help prepare ranches and feedlots to successfully participate in the McDonald’s Verified Sustainable Beef Pilot Project (VSB Pilot).

Qualifying applicants may be veterinarians, genetics providers, feed companies, associations and more. The funding, up to $20,000 per project, is to be used to “support efforts focused on Canadian beef producers successfully running through an on-site third-party verification and continuous improvements in the future.”
​
​Read the full article here.

McDonald’s is looking for cattle producers throughout Canada to 
participate in pilot project looking at the sustainable production

By Jennifer Paige

McDonald’s Canada representatives may soon be visiting Manitoba cattle farms as the company moves forward with a pilot program designed to increase the amount of beef it sources from sustainable suppliers.

“This verification program is open to anyone across Canada who wants to participate. We have had some interest from Manitoba already. One Manitoba producer has their verification scheduled and there are four or five others who have expressed interest,” said Jeff Fitzpatrick-Stilwell, senior manager of sustainability at McDonald’s Canada and member of the CRSB.
​
McDonald’s Global president and CEO, Steve Easterbrook and Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and rancher on CL Ranches outside Calgary on Tuesday.photo: Submitted 

Read the full article here.

By Alexis Kienlen

​McDonald’s has started verifying producers, as part of its promise to start selling sustainable beef in 2016.

Here’s what’s been happening on Alberta farms so far:

• Earlier this year, McDonald’s said it had a list of 40 “indicators” that will be used to rate a beef operation. The indicators — which cover areas such as animal care, environmental stewardship, and food safety practices — were jointly developed with livestock industry officials.
• Nineteen Alberta ranches have gone through the pilot process and have been verified. The evaluation is easy and takes about four hours to complete, said Cheri Copithorne-Barnes, chair of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and one of the ranchers who has been verified.

​Read the full article here.

Alberta visit of McDonald's global CEO signals a sea change in the beef industry

By Alexis Kienlen

It’s full speed ahead for McDonald’s “verified sustainable beef” project.

The country’s largest buyer of beef is finishing up the first phase of its groundbreaking pilot project in Canada, and earlier this month the head of the global fast-food giant paid a visit to Alberta to get a first-hand look.

Recently appointed CEO Steve Easterbrook visited CL Ranches just west of Calgary and Southern Cross Livestock near Crossfield.

“Being as he’s brand spanking new to the job, the sustainability team, which is headquartered in Chicago, really wanted to give him the opportunity to see first hand what they’re up to here in Canada,” said Cherie Copithorne-Barnes, CEO of CL Ranches and chair of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.

​Read the full article here.