Over the next 5 years, up to $18.5 million dollars will be invested by the federal government and industry partners in research to further the development of the Canadian pork industry. Swine Innovation Porc and the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) welcomed Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (AAFC), Lawrence MacAulay’s announcement this morning, highlighting that up to $12.7 million will be invested by the federal government. Swine Innovation Porc and its partners will also contribute $5.8 million, making a total investment of up to $18.5 million in research over a five-year period.
“The Canadian swine sector will benefit enormously from this investment,” stated Stewart Cressman, Chair of Swine Innovation Porc, who was on hand for the announcement in Sherbrooke, Québec this morning. “We want to thank Minister MacAulay for this significant investment, which shows AAFC’s commitment to support industry-led research. We are confident that the outcomes from program’s research projects will help increase the competitiveness of the Canadian pork industry in terms of animal welfare, the environment, as well as animal health and nutrition.”
CPC 2nd Vice-Chair René Roy was also present for the announcement. Mr. Roy highlights the need for ongoing research in the swine industry so that producers can continue to innovate and produce high quality pork for domestic and international markets: “Producers rely on science-based research to guide the innovations that help the industry grow. This funding is essential so that the Canadian pork industry can continue to compete with other important producers in the world, such as the United States and the European Union, and set the standard for wholesome pork.”
This funding contribution is part of the AAFC’s Canadian Agricultural Partnership, AgriScience Program - Clusters. It encourages research and innovation to take place to enhance the profitability and sustainability of the agricultural sector. Swine Innovation Porc will use this investment to implement its national knowledge transfer and research and development strategies under the program title of “Swine Cluster 3 – Innovating for a Stronger Pork Sector.” The goal of this program is to accelerate the pace of innovation, drive sustainable growth, strengthen competitiveness, and maximize the resilience of the sector.
The up to $18.5 million Swine Cluster 3 program will be the third such program led by Swine Innovation Porc. “Swine Innovation Porc has proven its ability to drive national research programs,” notes Stewart Cressman. “We are ready to officially launch this new program so researchers can begin working on ways to help the industry be even stronger.”
Since 2010, the objectives of research funded through the Swine Cluster program have focussed on reducing the cost of production, increasing product differentiation and enhancing knowledge transfer. The total investment over 8 years amounts to $31.7 million and has resulted in the completion of 35 different projects and over 1000 communication activities.
For more information, click here to read AAFC's official press release.
Source : Swine Innovation Porc