Maple Leaf Foods CEO Michael H. McCain spoke with relative confidence that the Canadian and North American pork industries are well-positioned to protect its pig herds, should the presence of African swine fever (ASF) be confirmed in the continent.
During a quarterly earnings call on October 30, McCain was asked about the threat of the virus, which has wiped out as much as half of the Chinese pig herd and has spread in other parts of Asia and Europe. The CEO of the Canadian pork and poultry company said Canada’s biosecurity programs and its partnership with the U.S. government and pork industry put it in a better position, but he stopped short of saying the continent’s pig herds are safe.
“You can never speak in absolutes, but I think the North American industry is pretty good shape to be able to both defend it, and deal with it in the event that it arises,” McCain said.
“Canada has a reputation around the world for one of the strongest biosecurity networks in hog production around the world. That is one of the things that has differentiated us for decades, and we have continued to invest in that biosecurity.”
McCain said the Canadian government in collaboration with the U.S. government, has “doubled down across the board” on protections from ASF, with strong communications, increased security at airports and “very aggressive fines for non-compliance at the border.”
“The combination of just a laundry list of biosecurity and compliance initiatives executed by the government and the industry, puts us in a very solid position to be leaders in the world in biosecurity,” McCain said.
Also during the call, McCain offered updates on the construction of the company’s future poultry plant in London, Ontario, and the addition of controlled atmosphere stunning at its poultry plant in Edmonton, Alberta.
View our continuing coverage of the African swine fever outbreak.
