Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz 

 

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was at Canadian Western Agribition Friday, and while there, he provided a major boost to the livestock sector.

He announced a $750,000 investment to help producers better compete on the world stage, including support for Agribition itself, with $150,000 through the AgriMarketing program to help Agribition promote itself to foreign markets, and establish the International Business Centre. The IBC is a hub to connect international buyers with Canadian exporters, and attracted 750 visitors at Agribition last year.
 
Ritz also announced $410,000 under the Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative to help enhance food safety and market access, and close to $140,000 toward two livestock and forage projects on the prairies, including building a new database system for tracking animal diseases at Prarie Diagnostic Services in Saskatoon, and developing an innovative alfalfa powder that is suitable for export, at Sunprime Extracts Ltd. in Russel, Manitoba.
 
Gerry Ritz makes the announcement at a press conference at Agribition in Regina.