Ontario pork producers and consumers will soon benefit from a new, $20-million Ontario Swine Research Centre.
The state-of-the-art centre will enhance the province’s capacity for research, innovation and the development of new technology in the swine sector.
Representatives of the University of Guelph, the Ontario government, the Government of Canada and Ontario Pork celebrated the opening of the centre Aug. 24 in Elora, Ont.
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The new facility results from a collaborative investment from the Government of Ontario, the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO) and Ontario’s pork industry, and is the newest addition to the provincial network of research centres owned by ARIO and managed by the University of Guelph through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.
U of G swine research will be relocated from the Arkell Research Station to the new research centre. The new centre will accommodate research in diverse disciplines, including nutrition, animal health and welfare, production economics, consumer-oriented research, environmental factors, genetics/genomics, nutrient management and reproduction.
Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson said the opening of the Ontario Swine Research Centre “is a perfect example of what can be achieved when industry, academia and government collaborate.” She said the “strategic” investment will help fuel leading-edge research to help advance Ontario’s pork sector with respect to herd health, consumer demand and production efficiencies.
John de Bruyn, board chair of Ontario Pork, said in the release “Ontario Pork’s ongoing investment in research and development follows a long tradition of swine research in Ontario and represents a renewed commitment by pork producers and industry partners in their dedication to continuous improvement in the pork industry.”
The provincial and federal governments also announced an investment of $1.75 million through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership for a feed distribution system and electronic sow feeders at the centre.
The remainder of the $20 million investment was provided by ARIO and Ontario’s pork industry.
