Economic analysis shows Swine Cluster Research investment is a win-win for industry and government

An independent economic analysis has demonstrated money allocated to pork research in Canada is win-win for the pork sector and for government.

An independent economic assessment conducted on behalf of Swine Innovation Porc looked at the impact of swine cluster research as a driver for growth in the Canadian pork sector and in Canadian economy and found the resulting advances improved the sector's productivity by three and a half percent.

Swine Innovation Porc General Manager Daniel Ramage says these large-scale investments are leading to better outcomes and technologies, such as new vaccines, improved genetics, better feeding strategies and better product quality, to name just a few.

”What the study shows is research investments through SIP are a win-win for government and for industry. And, when we work together to make these research investments that benefit pork producers, they end up with higher productivity and then that spins off into benefits for all Canadians. I think that's a really important thing to take home, especially now, as we're looking toward the future and preparing for the next swine cluster program and that's going to enable research upcoming from 2023 up until 2028,” said Daniel Ramage, General Manager of Swine Innovation Porc.

Swine Innovation Porc is funded by the federal government, Sask Pork and the other seven provincial pork organizations, as well as multiple private partners within the pork industry. Sask Pork and the other provincial pork producer organizations contribute 2.5 cents per market hog and .5 cent per weanling, which is used to leverage public dollars and multiply investments in research and development to benefit the industry. Every $1 from producer organizations is used to leverage an additional $8 from other sources of funding.

“Something that's really important to keep in mind is the importance of investing in research and understanding that, by enhancing the support that we provide toward innovation in the pork sector, we can really help to make sure that the sector is staying ahead of the curve to benefit producers and to be globally competitive. And then, alongside that there's really a good understanding here that research is also going to translate into important economic developments across Canada,” added Ramage.

Eight projects are being carried out either partly or entirely in Saskatchewan as part of the five-year Swine Cluster 3 Research Program that includes 14 primary research and development projects in animal health, nutrition, welfare, environment, and pork quality.