New Ontario Poultry Research Centre to advance sector research and drive innovation.
By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com; Photo by Ashlee Marie on Unsplash
The Ontario provincial government has announced it is investing $13.5 million in a new, poultry research centre in Elora.
The Government of Ontario, the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO), the University of Guelph, and the province’s four poultry industry boards—Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Egg Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Commission, and the Turkey Farmers of Ontario—have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to invest in the new Ontario Poultry Research Centre to advance research and drive innovation for the poultry sector.
"As part of the Grow Ontario Strategy, our government is focused on enhancing our research and innovation capabilities across the agri-food sector," said Lisa Thompson, Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). “This research centre will, once completed, equip our poultry industry with the tools, and the knowledge to stay competitive, while creating jobs, growing the economy, and ensuring supply chain security."
Ontario-led agri-food research conducted at this facility will support animal welfare, reproduction, and nutrition, as well as meat quality and safety. Results will be shared with poultry farmers and the broader poultry business sector to encourage the adoption of innovative, safer, healthier, and more efficient animal and on-farm production practices.
"The new Ontario Poultry Research Centre in Elora is a major and future-forward step in advancing the sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience of Ontario’s poultry industry through cutting-edge research, collaborative partnerships, and innovation. The Centre will provide the world-class University of Guelph researchers with the facilities and resources to conduct purpose-driven research on pressing industry challenges, supporting strong and stable poultry production across the province by improving animal health and welfare, food safety, and production efficiency," stated Dr. Malcolm Campbell, the Vice-President (Research), at the University of Guelph.
Ontario’s poultry industry includes more than 1,200 chicken and turkey producers and 432 egg farmers across the province who will benefit from the innovative research and innovative technologies that will be housed onsite. The new centre is expected to begin construction in 2024 and be completed by 2026.
In 2021, Ontario’s poultry contributed roughly $1.8 billion to the province’s economy.
Murray Opsteen, Chair, Chicken Farmers of Ontario added: “The Poultry Research Centre of Excellence will help to further establish Ontario as a leader in innovation, sustainability, animal welfare, and food safety. Chicken Farmers of Ontario is committed to supporting the research and innovation needs necessary to advance the chicken industry and the broader Ontario agriculture community. On behalf of the 1,300 chicken farming families across Ontario, we thank Minister Thompson and OMAFRA for your advocacy for the sector."
By investing in the province’s research infrastructure, the government is prioritizing made-in-Ontario research and innovation that boosts productivity, helps businesses grow, creates jobs, and strengthens the economy.