$12.7 Million to Advance Innovation in Canada’s Swine Sector

Canada’s pork and hog sector is an important driver of the Canadian economy, with farm cash receipts reaching $4.5 billion in 2017

Research and innovation are vital to ensuring this sector continues to produce quality products that meet the highest standards of animal health and welfare, food safety and sustainability.

Today, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay, announced a federal investment of up to $12.7 million to Swine Innovation Porc, under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriScience Clusters. The Swine Research and Development Cluster investment is the first of a series of AgriScience Clusters to be announced under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership launched in April 2018.

“”We are confident that the outcomes from this research program will drive sustainable growth and strengthen the competitivity of the Canadian pork industry”

“Pork farmers rely on research and innovation to implement new practices and tools that help them improve their sustainability, while remaining competitive,” MacAulay stated. “Today’s investment will ensure Canada’s pork industry continues to sustainably produce high-quality products at home, and remain a top exporter in the world, which is good for our economy and for creating good, well-paying jobs for Canadians across the country.”

AgriScience Clusters are intended to mobilize partnerships among industry, government and academia to address priority themes and horizontal issues that are national in scope in the agriculture sector.

Swine Innovation Porc, a non-profit corporation committed to facilitating research in the Canadian swine sector, will contribute up to an additional $5.8 million to the Swine Research and Development Cluster for a total value of up to $18.5 million.

“This investment in research and development is excellent news for the Canadian swine sector,” added Stewart Cressman, Chair, Swine Innovation Porc. “Science and innovation are the keys to the long-term success of Canadian producers and the industry at large. ”

These investments will be used to: examine new ways of feeding piglets that could help provide immunity from diseases; determine best methods for the classification of pork based on quality attributes to provide more choice for Canadian consumers; and, examine long-distance transport effects on the health and welfare of early weaned pigs.

This research will build on two previous Swine Clusters, which included projects focussing on animal nutrition research, and animal health and welfare research.

Today’s announcement is part of Minister MacAulay’s ‘Growing Canadian Agriculture’ tour, where he will meet with farmers, processors and industry leaders, as well as participate in rural agricultural events across the country, to hear ideas on how to capture new growth opportunities for the sector.

“We are confident that the outcomes from this research program will drive sustainable growth and strengthen the competitivity of the Canadian pork industry. We want to express our thanks to Minister MacAulay for this timely and significant investment that gives Swine Innovation Porc the opportunity to even better serve the whole pork value chain.”