Canada invests in strengthening position in global pork sector

Canada's minister of national revenue Marie-Claude Bibeau announced today up to $10.6 million to Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) through the AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, according to a government-issued press release. 

The Cluster seeks to enhance Canada's leading position in the global pork sector by conducting strategic research initiatives that will advance sustainability, resilience and growth opportunities. Research activities are expected to:

• improve understanding of sector environmental and climate performance and strategies to reduce GHGs and environmental impacts
• stimulate greater productivity and product quality through new insights and technologies
• enhance animal welfare and respond to diseases
• advance the fight against antimicrobial resistance
• enhance the competitiveness of Canadian pork producers and processors

SIP has successfully delivered the three previous Swine Clusters. Successes of the previous Clusters include feeding strategies to increase productivity, decreased antibiotic use and improved pork quality, new methods to advance biosecurity within the Canadian swine transport industry, and a tool to classify Canadian pork based on quality attributes.

In addition to the Swine Cluster, Bibeau announced $1 million through the Greening Government Fund (GGF) to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to replace the ventilation system and controls at the Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre's swine barn with heat recovery fans capable of higher efficiency. The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat provides funding for projects under the GGF, a component of the Greening Government Strategy, which outlines targets to reduce the GHG emissions from federal operations. AAFC has also received $835,000 from the GGF to replace the current oil-based heating system in the Normandin Research Farm's main building with a pellet biomass heating system to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

"With this funding, we're making sure our pork producers have the tools they need to continue to be leaders in the agriculture sector. This will create opportunities for innovation so we can meet the growing global demand for our world-renowned Canadian pork," Canada's minister of agriculture Lawrence MacAulay said. 

"Focusing on research in the pork industry will enable our producers and processors across the country to improve productivity and quality," added Bibeau. "The investment announced today will ensure the sector's competitiveness and the industry's sustained growth, both nationally and internationally.

"This investment in the fourth Swine Research Cluster will help deliver science-based solutions for the benefit of Canadian pork producers, processors, and exporters," said Arno Schober, chair, Swine Innovation Porc and Ontario pork producer. "By mobilising critical research and building on our scientific capacity, Swine Cluster 4 will position our industry to better address ever-changing consumer preferences, regulatory realities, and production potential."