The LineUp
The LineUp content hub features the latest releases and articles as they are distributed by Newsline, and it serves as a central location for the agriculture sector and media professionals to stay informed and up to date.
Canadian Meat Council Raises Concerns Over Proposed Changes to Federal Food Safety Regulations
Aug. 26, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) is raising serious concerns about proposed amendments to the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) that would allow certain provincially inspected meat products to enter interprovincial trade. CMC and its members strongly support reducing interprovincial trade barriers. However, the proposed four-year exemption risks creating a regulatory loophole that could weaken Canada’s food safety framework, undermine confidence in the federal inspection system and put international market access at risk. “Most meat processed in Canada already moves across provincial borders. We support efforts to expand that trade, but not by creating different inspection standards for products entering the same market,” said Kyle Larkin, President & CEO of the Canadian Meat Council. “The potential damage to consumer and international confidence in Canada’s food safety system far outweighs the limited benefit of this proposal.” Federal and provincial meat inspection systems serve different purposes and markets. Federally licensed facilities operate under continuous, on-site inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and must meet federal requirements that underpin Canada’s reputation and access as a trusted meat exporter. “Canada needs one federal food safety standard that is applied consistently across the country,” said Larkin. “We should …
Swine Innovation Porc expands Pork Research Hub with new Research in Action video series
Monthly videos showcase the researchers and Swine Cluster 4 projects driving innovation in Canada’s pork sector July 9, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — Following the recent launch of the Pork Research Hub, Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) is expanding the Research in Action section with the debut of a new video series highlighting the researchers and projects behind Canada’s pork research. The Pork Research Hub is Canada’s bilingual online destination for pork research, bringing together practical resources, research findings and innovation stories in one searchable location. Its Research in Action section showcases how Canadian pork research is delivering real-world value through articles, videos, podcasts and other knowledge transfer resources. The first video in the series features Dr. Aline Remus, Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, whose Swine Cluster 4 research explores precision feeding systems that can reduce feed costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve the sustainability of pig production. Watch the first episode: https://porkresearchhub.ca/en/research-action/research-action-video-precision-feeding-dr-aline-remus Each month, a new Research in Action video will introduce viewers to a different Swine Cluster 4 project, providing an inside look at the people, partnerships and innovations shaping the future of Canadian pork production. Episodes will be released on the Swine Innovation Porc YouTube channel, with French-language versions also available, and featured in the Research in …
Canada’s Pork Sector Launches the Pork Research Hub
July 9, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — Swine Innovation Porc (SIP), Prairie Swine Centre (PSC), the Centre de développement du porc du Québec (CDPQ), and the Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement (CCSI), are proud to launch the Pork Research Hub, a national platform connecting Canada’s pork sector with research, innovation and practical knowledge. The Pork Research Hub consolidates research articles, technical resources, videos, webinars, podcasts and innovation stories from Canada’s swine research community into a single accessible, bilingual platform. Designed to support producers, researchers, industry leaders and partners across the value chain, the Hub helps improve access to Canadian pork research and makes it easier to find practical information that can support decision-making and knowledge transfer. The platform is organized around two core areas: the Resource Library, a searchable collection of research articles, factsheets, tools and technical resources, and Research in Action, a curated section highlighting the real-world impacts of Canadian pork research through articles, videos, podcasts, webinars and innovation stories. The Hub was developed through a collaborative national partnership. It reflects a shared commitment to strengthening coordination and broadening access to research in support of Canada’s pork sector. Its development was supported by contributions from SIP, PSC, CDPQ, CCSI and the …
Meat Processors Welcome National Food Security Strategy but Warn of Export Market Risks and Labour Gaps
June 15, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) – The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) and Canada’s federally licensed red meat processing sector welcome the Government of Canada’s recently announced National Food Security Strategy, particularly its commitment to strengthening domestic food processing capacity. However, the sector is raising concerns about proposed exemptions from federal food safety requirements for non-federally licensed processors, which could create risks for international market access, as well as the absence of measures to address persistent labour shortages in the agri-food sector. “Canada’s meat processors are at the heart of agricultural communities across the country,” said Sylvain Fournaise, Chair of the CMC. “We welcome the initial investments aimed at expanding domestic food processing capacity, especially at a time when many companies— including small and medium-sized beef processors—are facing significant financial pressures driven by high input costs and evolving global market conditions.” The strategy includes $1 billion in Farm Credit Canada financing for food and agriculture businesses, $150 million for small and medium-sized enterprises, and $100 million to support the commercialization of agricultural innovation. However, it also proposes exemptions from the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations for certain non-federally licensed processors. These regulations underpin Canada’s federally inspected meat system and guide Canadian Food …
Grain Growers of Canada Welcomes National Food Security Strategy, Calls for Concrete Action
June 12, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — Grain Growers of Canada welcomes the Government of Canada’s National Food Security Strategy and its recognition that keeping food affordable means supporting the farmers who grow it through modern regulations, reliable supply chains, domestic market opportunities, and successful farm succession. Grain farmers are at the heart of our country’s food security, with up to 30 per cent of their annual crop production destined for Canadian markets. Their ability to produce competitively depends on the broader cost environment around them, including access to inputs, efficient regulations, reliable transportation systems, and market opportunities at home. Recent commitments to update the mandate of Health Canada’s Pesticides Regulatory Directorate, formerly the Pest Management Regulatory Agency, to account for food security and the cost of food are an important step. The government’s move to improve access to crop protection tools, while maintaining Canada’s high safety standards, further reflects the need for a regulatory system that supports innovation, competitiveness, and food security. With over 97 per cent of Canadian farms family owned and operated, GGC welcomes the government’s focus on succession planning, including measures to help young farmers enter the sector, access financing, and take over family operations. The next …
Grain Growers of Canada signs trilateral industry letter calling for CUSMA renewal and strengthening
June 2, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) has joined more than 160 agricultural organizations from Canada, the United States and Mexico in signing a trilateral industry letter calling for the renewal and strengthening of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA/USMCA/T-MEC). The letter, addressed to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Canadian Minister Responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade Dominic LeBlanc, and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard, calls on all three governments to protect the integrated North American agricultural trading framework ahead of the July 1, 2026, joint review. Canadian grain farmers have a direct stake in the outcome. Canada exports over 70 per cent of the grain it grows, generating $45 billion in annual export value. The United States is the sector’s largest trading partner, with over $17 billion in grain and grain products flowing there annually, a highly integrated market that cannot be replaced at scale. From 2024 to 2025, the export value of Canadian grain and grain products decreased by over $2.3 billion, a reflection of how quickly market access disruptions translate into farm-level losses. Reliable, rules-based market access is a core requirement for farm viability, and CUSMA has been central to that. The agreement has supported …
North American agricultural coalition calls for CUSMA/USMCA renewal as Canadian delegation heads to Capitol Hill
CAFTA delegation to meet with members of key congressional committees and federal officials as nearly 160 organizations across the U.S., Canada and Mexico urge governments to protect the North American agricultural trading framework ahead of July 1 review. June 2, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) — The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is joining nearly 160 North American agricultural organizations in calling for the renewal and strengthening of CUSMA/USMCA and backing that call with a delegation in Washington this week for direct meetings with members of key congressional committees and federal officials ahead of the July 1, 2026, joint review. CAFTA and its member organizations are among the signatories of a trilateral industry letter released today to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Canadian Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard, urging all three governments to protect the integrated North American agricultural trading framework that has tripled agrifood trade between the three countries between 2005 and 2023, reaching $285 billion. Meetings will reinforce the trilateral letter’s call to protect that rules-based framework and ensure the July 1 review strengthens and preserves the disciplines that have made the agreement work. “Nearly 160 organizations across the United States, Canada and Mexico are …
Swine Innovation Porc to Host Webinar on Disease Risk and Antimicrobial Use in Swine Production
May 28, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) – Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) will host a national webinar on June 17 at 1:00 p.m. ET exploring how disease prevention and management strategies can help reduce antimicrobial use in swine production. Titled Disease Risk and Antimicrobial Use in Swine: From Post-Weaning Diarrhea to System-Level Prevention, the webinar will feature Dr. Vahab Farzan (University of Guelph) and Dr. Gustavo Silva (Iowa State University), who will provide complementary perspectives on disease risk, prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship in swine systems. Dr. Farzan will present findings from Swine Cluster 4 research on post-weaning diarrhea (PWD)., He will share insights from a pan-Canadian epidemiological study examining key bacterial strains, risk factors, and management challenges linked to PWD in nursery pigs. Dr. Silva will provide a broader systems-level perspective on how diseases such as PRRS and other endemic conditions spread within swine production systems, and how biosecurity, surveillance, and risk assessment can help reduce disease pressure and improve herd health. “Disease prevention and antimicrobial stewardship remain major priorities for producers across Canada,” said Daniel Ramage, General Manager of Swine Innovation Porc. “This webinar will provide practical insights into the factors driving disease risk and the strategies that can help producers …
