Funding will help industry improve the quality of cuts offered to buyers
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
The Canadian federal government announced funding designed to help the pork sector use new imaging technology to improve the quality of cuts offered to domestic and international buyers.
Quebec’s Fonds de recherche et développement de la production porcine (FRDPP) will use nearly $1 million in funding create 3D images to map out desirable traits that are present in hogs.
Hogs determined to provide premium cuts of pork could be selected to populate future generations.
"Coop fédérée (that created FRDPP in 2006) values research and development in its pork value chain to develop new practices that meet industry requirements and constantly-evolving consumer needs as well,” Ghislain Gervais, president La Coop fédérée, said in a release. “We therefore welcome Agriculture and Agri-Food’s contribution to our technological innovation project in genetic selection.”
It’s estimated the imaging technology could raise the value of each hog by as much as $15 and the government is optimistic the investment will help Canada’s hog farmers remain competitive in global markets.
“The Government of Canada is committed to helping hog farmers compete internationally by offering the best pork cuts using the latest imaging technology,” Parliamentary Secretary Jean-Claude Poissant said in the release on behalf of Minister of Agriculture Lawrence MacAulay. “Producers will be able to selectively breed hogs with the most desirable characteristics, helping drive the sector forward as a leader in innovation, while improving profitability.”
Farms.com has reached out to the Canadian Pork Council for comment.