Laying hens feed inside a poultry barn. Ontario has broken ground on a new poultry research centre in Elora that will support research in animal health, welfare, biosecurity, nutrition, and production efficiency for the province’s poultry sector. Photo: Krugloff/iStock/Getty Images Plus photo
Construction is underway on the new Ontario Poultry Research Centre in Elora, a project designed to strengthen research capacity and support the long-term competitiveness of Ontario’s poultry industry.
The provincial government has committed more than $24 million to the facility through Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO).
The centre will provide research support for more than 1,500 chicken and turkey producers and approximately 500 egg and pullet farmers across the province. Research conducted at the facility will focus on areas including animal welfare, nutrition, reproduction, meat quality, genetics, biosecurity, food safety, flock health, and production efficiency.
According to the province, the facility will include dedicated areas for layers and pullets, broilers, and hatcheries, along with specialized and commercial research wings capable of supporting multiple research disciplines. The centre is expected to be completed by summer 2028 and will create more than 220 construction jobs during the building phase.
Ontario Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Minister Sam Oosterhoff said the investment is intended to help poultry producers address current challenges while positioning the sector for future growth.
The project builds on a previously announced provincial investment through ARIO and includes contributions from Ontario’s four poultry feather boards: Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Egg Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Commission, and Turkey Farmers of Ontario. The project also received $250,000 through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)to support part of the design phase.
The research centre is a partnership between the Ontario government, ARIO, the four feather boards, and the University of Guelph. The collaboration is intended to provide producers with access to research aimed at improving productivity, resilience, and on-farm performance.
Dr. Rene Van Acker, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guelph, said the centre will help connect researchers, producers, and industry partners to develop practical solutions for the agri-food sector.
Industry representatives also welcomed the project, noting that expanded research capacity will support disease prevention, innovation, animal welfare, sustainability, and the adoption of emerging technologies throughout Ontario’s poultry sector.
ARIO owns Ontario’s network of agri-food research infrastructure, including 14 research station properties encompassing about 5,600 acres and more than 200 buildings. Most of those facilities are operated by the University of Guelph through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.
The new Ontario Poultry Research Centre is expected to play a key role in supporting research-driven improvements across the province’s poultry industry while helping strengthen food security and sector resilience in the years ahead.