Canadian Pork Research Delivers 8-to-1 Return on Investment, University of Saskatchewan Report Finds

May 04, 2026

A new report from the University of Saskatchewan reveals that swine sector research funded through producer-government partnerships has generated $225 million in economic benefits from a $50 million investment over 14 years—a roughly 30 percent annual return on investment.

Key Findings

The report, “From Research to Results: Measuring the Impact of Pork Research in Canada,” examined national swine research funded through Swine Innovation Porc partnerships from 2010 to 2023. The work involved more than 200 researchers from Alberta to Nova Scotia.

Dr. Stuart Smyth, a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan and co-author of the report, outlined the major research areas:

Livestock health — reducing disease prevalence in herds
Nutrition — improving the nutritional profile of swine feed
Meat quality — fine-tuning processed pork quality
Animal welfare — advancing welfare standards and practices
Technology and infrastructure — optimizing building structures for environmental requirements

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Video: Trade Uncertainty and Pork Growth - Cam Dahl

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Cam Dahl, General Manager of Manitoba Pork Council, discusses how trade uncertainty affects growth across Canadian pork production. He explains why CUSMA, market diversification, non-tariff barriers, access to capital, labor needs, and producer advocacy all matter as the industry plans for investment, exports, and long-term competitiveness. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Trade uncertainty makes access to capital difficult when producers and processors are ready to invest and grow."

Meet the guest: Cam Dahl / cam-dahl-58115832 is the General Manager of Manitoba Pork Council. He has extensive leadership experience across Canadian agriculture, including Cereals Canada, the Canada Grains Council, Manitoba Beef Producers, and the Canadian Grain Commission. His work focuses on policy, advocacy, trade, business development, and strengthening market opportunities for Canadian producers. Learn more from Cam Dahl on The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, available on all major platforms.