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Preamble:
WHEREAS food insecurity continues to rise across Alberta, with food banks experiencing record demand for nutritious and protein-rich food options; and
WHEREAS livestock producers in Alberta have demonstrated a willingness to donate animals to food banks, but the high cost of processing livestock into consumable protein (e.g., ground beef or pork) remains a significant barrier; and
WHEREAS programs such as Project Protein by the Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge have demonstrated the success of livestock donation models when processing costs are subsidized; and
WHEREAS the Government of Alberta has previously supported such initiatives through the Community Initiatives Program and other grant mechanisms; and
WHEREAS Food Banks Alberta provides operational grants to member food banks, but current funding is insufficient to consistently cover livestock processing costs;
Operative Clause:
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta advocate to the Government of Alberta to establish a dedicated and sustainable funding stream to support the processing of donated livestock for food banks, thereby enhancing access to high-quality protein for food-insecure Albertans; and
FUTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of Alberta work in partnership with Food Banks Alberta, local food banks, and the livestock industry to expand and formalize programs like Project Protein, ensuring that processing costs are not a barrier to livestock donations.
Member Background:
Protein is one of the most requested but least donated food items at food banks. Alberta’s agricultural sector, particularly livestock producers, has shown strong community spirit by donating animals to food banks. However, the cost of processing these animals—estimated at approximately $500 per head of cattle and $200 per pig (Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge, 2018)—often falls on the food banks, which are already stretched thin.
For example, in 2014, the Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge launched Project Protein with funding from the Alberta Community Initiatives Program. This pilot program processed 130 animals and provided over 39,000 pounds of ground meat to food-insecure families, exceeding expectations. Although the pilot was successful, grant funding has since been depleted, and food banks now rely on limited donations or must absorb processing costs themselves.
Food Banks Alberta offers grants for operational needs, including food purchasing and equipment, but there is no dedicated provincial or federal funding stream specifically for livestock processing. A formalized and well-funded program would allow food banks to accept more livestock donations, reduce waste, and provide essential protein to families in need.
RMA Background:
19-24F: Exemption from Food Banks Canada’s Standard of Excellence and Accreditation Requirements for Small and/or Rural Local Food Banks
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rural Municipalities of Alberta advocate the Government of Alberta to add further exemptions to the Standards of Excellence established by Food Banks Canada for small, rural food banks similar to the exemption to northern and Indigenous food banks.
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Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation:
The Government of Alberta acknowledges food security has become an important issue for many Albertans and Canadians.
Through Budget 2025, the Government of Alberta provided $2 million to Food Banks Alberta (FBA) to build capacity and emergency preparedness in the province’s network of food banks. Key elements of this grant focused on strengthening food redistribution and bulk purchase programs, maintaining funding streams to help food banks purchase equipment and cover unexpected shortfalls in operating costs, and responding to the needs of underserved communities.
FBA supports Alberta’s food banks through a subsidy program that reimburses for higher demand/non-perishable staples or perishable foods purchased by food banks (i.e., animal protein). Assisted Living and Social Services (ALSS) continues to collaborate with FBA to explore innovative solutions to food insecurity by identifying emerging technologies and innovative practices that can help Albertans in need to achieve food security.
Addressing food insecurity is a complex challenge that requires collaboration across multiple ministries and stakeholders. Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) will continue to collaborate with ALSS and other relevant ministries to explore potential options to enhance food security in Alberta.
Development:
Resolution 1-25F highlights a key challenge rural foodbanks are facing: inadequate funding for protein. Rural foodbanks have developed creative and innovative programs, like Project Protein in southern Alberta, that offer community driven solutions to address protein food insecurity. However, these types of programs carry costs that are difficult for local foodbanks to fund long term. The resolution notes that a Government of Alberta funded program that would enable food banks to cover the cost of processing donated livestock from generous local agricultural producers would enhance access to high-quality protein for food-insecure Albertans and support rural food banks more effective and efficient use of available funds.
The response from the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation reported that the Government of Alberta included $2 million in budget 2025 for Food Banks Alberta. Food Banks Alberta was directed to spend this funding to build local food banks capacity and emergency preparedness, which happened to include a high-demand food funding stream, like protein. The Government of Alberta provided this funding because of a recognized need for food banks and the importance of food security for Alberta residents.
While RMA appreciates the Government of Alberta’s investment in food banks, this funding does not meet the resolution active clause for a dedicated and sustainable funding stream for livestock donation processing costs. The response also does not address the Government of Alberta’s willingness to work with Food Banks Alberta, local food banks, or the livestock industry to formalize a protein funding program. As a result, RMA assigns this resolution the status of Intent Not Met and will continue to advocate for strengthened food bank protein funding from the Government of Alberta.
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