June 24, 2002

Edmonton, Alberta – June 24, 2002 – The beef industry now has access to an upgraded tool that assures the quality and safety of beef products by allowing cattle producers, processors and retailers to follow livestock through the entire production line and gather important information. In July, Viewtrak Technologies Inc. launched its upgraded software system that offers a new level of performance on the platform livestock producers have been using to track their cattle through the production process.“

Consumers today are demanding assurances about the quality and safety of their food more than ever before,” says Dr. Jake Burlet, a veterinarian and President & CEO of Viewtrak Technologies Inc. “With Viewtrak, the beef industry can help meet those demands by tracking and integrating the records of each animal as it moves through the production line. We can help livestock producers ensure that the beef products they produce will be safe for the consumer and of a consistently high quality.”

Dr. Burlet points out that the Viewtrak system is also consistent with the emphasis on food safety as outlined in the Agricultural Policy Framework recently announced by the federal government. He adds, “The current emphasis on traceability and quality monitoring in the food production industry means that the timing is just right for a system like Viewtrak.

What is Viewtrak?

Viewtrak is an Internet-based record-keeping system that uses a unique lifetime identification number to build individual animal records from birth to processing to retail counters. The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency was recently mandated to assign individual numbers to each head of livestock that is produced in this country. But since cattle change hands several times between birth and processing, it can be complicated to trace an animal through the entire production chain. The integrated Viewtrak foodsource management system allows the seamless transfer of information, by individual animal or by herd, between all industry participants and ultimately enables a complete profile of the animals’ production history to be built.

Who is using Viewtrak?

Livestock producers, meat processors, retailers and others in the beef industry all have an interest in building these records. Viewtrak enables cow/calf producers to select the most productive genetics and management practices to improve their herds. Processors who use the Viewtrak system can track better yielding and better grading groups of animals to pinpoint opportunities for selling quality products. And Viewtrak offers retailers a sophisticated trace-back system to ensure the quality and safety of their food products to their customers. At the end of the production chain, consumers have the assurance that the meat products they buy are better, more consistent and safe.

In January, Viewtrak announced agreements with Nilsson Bros. to obtain beef carcass grading information from processing plants in Western Canada, and the Canadian Speckle Park Association, a breed association, to build demand for their quality beef products.“

Everyone in the beef production chain has the opportunity to gain value from the Viewtrak system,” says Dr. Burlet. “But at the end of the day, it all comes down to delivering safe, quality products for consumers.”

Viewtrak is an integrated food source management, marketing and source verification system, from producer to consumer. Viewtrak is backed by B2B Vertical Markets, a joint venture of the RBC Financial Group, Canada’s largest financial institution, and Mediagrif Interactive Technologies, a Montreal-based world-leading developer and operator of B2B e-commerce marketplaces. These investors give Viewtrak the operational expertise and technological capabilities needed to build a system specific to the beef industry.

For more information, contact:

J.F. (Jake) Burlet, D.V.M, M.B.A, President & CEO

Viewtrak Technologies Inc.

780-456-2207

jburlet@viewtrak.com