Mission to Asia - Japan, China, Korea - October 11 - 25, 2005

• Develop strong linkages with key government and industry decision makers to address food safety, trade policy, and other market access issues.
• Promote resumption of beef trade.

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing with Heilongjiang to develop a food processing development centre in China and initiate discussion on future joint product development/marketing initiatives in China.

• Promote trade and investment opportunities for Alberta agri-food products and industries, with particular emphasis on beef, pork, malt barley and canola.

• To position Alberta as a reliable long-term supplier of beef to Japan.
• To determine and promote investment in the value-added processing sector in Alberta by Japanese companies.
• To build relationships with senior officials to facilitate restored market access and ensure continuity of that access.
• To support other Alberta agri-food exports including pork, malt, and french fries.

• To discuss with Chinese officials progress towards restoring market access for Alberta beef products to China.
• Build upon initiatives under the existing MOU with the Chinese government on cooperation in the agriculture and agri-food industry.
• Signing of a MOU with Heilongjiang to develop a food-processing centre in China. Initiate discussions on future joint product development/marketing initiatives in China.
• Promote Alberta’s animal genetics industry in the Chinese market.
• Meet with trading companies and industrial players involved in imports of agriculture commodities.

• Meet with senior Korean government officials to discuss restoring market access for beef and other agriculture products.
• Support Canadian Beef Export Federation by participating in a promotional trade event.
• Meet with key industry contacts and influencers to generate interest in investment in the agriculture and agri-food industry in Alberta.

• Obtained front line information/intelligence regarding key agricultural issues in Japan, including the current scientific perception on the overall BSE situation.
• Obtained key information regarding the steps involved in opening the Japanese market to Canadian beef. Alberta provided information about its verification system, traceability, Specified Risk Material (SRM) removal, and surveillance systems.
• Identified interest by a Japanese retail outlet to promote Alberta beef in its stores once trade resumes.
• Discussed Alberta’s Prion Research Institute and received advice on future risk management from a high-ranking member of the International Research Advisory Committee, Prion Research Institute.
• Defended our high quality beef and showcased the high level of food safety protocols in Canada. Received positive feedback on the Age Verification System, and learned more about the priority put on food safety by the Japanese consumer.
• Received feedback on enhancing and publicizing information and ultimately educating Japanese consumers about our food safety and quality protocols emphasizing that we remove SRM.
• Received recommendations on promoting beef sales once the border opens.

• Discussed malt and potato markets stressing the quality of Alberta malt and potatoes as well as shipping logistics from Canada.
• Promoted new container facility currently being built in the Port of Prince Rupert as a possible solution to Japan’s shipping route issues.
• Discussed opportunities for Alberta value-added potato products.
• Secured Japanese retail outlet interest in examining the potential of using the Leduc Processing Centre for the development of products for export to Japan.
• Discussed the desire of one Japanese company to purchase high quality branded Canadian products produced in Alberta.

• Provided key information to the regulatory body in charge of removing the Chinese ban on Canadian beef, stressed Alberta’s verification and traceability systems, SRM removal and our surveillance systems.
• Established that Chinese authorities/scientists will be travelling to Canada to review our surveillance/age verification/SRM removal systems that will help them to better understand the mitigating steps we have taken.
• Discussed Canada/Alberta’s technology on tracking/tracing cattle (Radio Frequency Identification – (RFID) tags) and the potential to start a pilot project/trial using RFID tags in China.

• Attended a signing ceremony that confirmed the immediate sale of 30,000 units of Alberta produced dairy semen.
• Discussed a partnership that would investigate the use of canola meal as feed in China. Also discussed sourcing breeding animals in Alberta for export to China.
• A protocol for importation of breeding stock will be developed when the border opens.
• With resumption of trade, AAFRD and Alberta livestock breeding companies will cooperate/partner with a new Chinese Artificial Insemination (AI) centre to provide them breeding stock, technical expert exchanges and to introduce dairy genetic material.

• Agreement was reached to have a MOU signed in the near future that details a more formal relationship on organic foods and food safety.
• A MOU was signed between AAFRD and the Ministry of Science and Technology which seeks to build the longstanding relationship between Alberta and Heilongjiang by enhancing cooperation in value-added agricultural processing, product development, packaging, and marketing.
• Discussed establishing a Science and Technology Livestock Identification Centre focussed on animal safety controls, disease controls and measures to prevent BSE in the future.
• Discussed establishing a cooperative arrangement between Olds College and the Heilongjiang Veterinary Association to address the shortage of skilled workers in the livestock industry.
• Discussed strengthening the level of cooperation in dairy and beef breeding stock, in forage seed breeding and quality standards in Heilongjiang, and in establishing a demonstration farm for beef cattle.

• Discussed opportunities for an Alberta food promotion in a Chinese retail outlet.
• Provided Alberta Food Processors Association with a Chinese import contact.
• Discussed opportunities for export of malt barley and establishment of a new malting facility in Alberta.
• Discussed opportunities for investing/building organic vegetable greenhouses in Alberta.
• Established that a protocol for sheep/lamb and goat exportation to China is required.

• Invited Korean authorities/scientists to travel to Canada to review our surveillance/age verification/SRM removal systems.

• Marketed Alberta as a preferred source of food and feed for the Korean consumer.
• Marketed Alberta as an attractive location for Korean companies to secure their supply of raw material by investing in the processing capacity in Alberta.
• Discussed opportunities for processing and buying Canadian food products for the Korean marketplace.

• Presented initiatives that Canada is taking to remove CWD as a barrier to trade in elk velvet.

• Discussed a free trade agreement between Canada and Korea.
• Discussed World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations and the potential impacts on a Korean/Canadian Free Trade Agreement.