Alberta Pork Congress Celebrates Industry Leadership and Innovation

Jun 22, 2026

The Alberta pork industry gathered in Red Deer for the 2026 Alberta Pork Congress, bringing together producers, researchers, suppliers, industry partners, and stakeholders to share knowledge, strengthen connections, and explore the latest innovations impacting pork production across the province.

One of the highlights of this year’s event was the presentation of the 2026 Pork Industry Ambassador Award to Charlotte Shipp, Industry Programs Manager with Alberta Pork.

The Pork Industry Ambassador Award recognizes individuals whose leadership, dedication, and commitment have made a significant and lasting contribution to Alberta’s pork sector.

Throughout her career with Alberta Pork, Shipp has played a key role in several important industry initiatives, including leadership of the Alberta Swine Traceability System, advancing wild boar control efforts, supporting producer grant programs, and serving as a trusted liaison between producers, government, and industry partners.

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Video: Genetics Behind Swine Resilience - Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger, geneticist at Topigs Norsvin, explains how genetics can improve disease resilience in pigs. She explores how resilience differs from resistance, the role of genetic variation, and how breeding strategies can enhance health and performance under disease pressure. Dr. Dunkelberger also covers practical applications and future implications for swine production. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Controlled experimental trials confirm that differences in mortality and performance under disease pressure are linked to genetic background, even when environmental conditions remain consistent."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger / jenelle-dunkelberger-9200ab86 is a geneticist at Topigs Norsvin, where she leads the Global Health and Behavior Research Platform. She earned her PhD from Iowa State University, focusing on host genetics and disease response in pigs. Her work centers on improving swine health and performance through genetic selection for resilience and behavior traits.