Ontario Invests $41 Million in Agricultural Research Infrastructure to Strengthen Agri-Food Innovation

Oct 20, 2025

The Ontario government has announced an investment of more than $41 million over four years to build and revitalize Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO) infrastructure, a move aimed at supporting farmers, boosting competitiveness, and driving innovation across the province’s agri-food sector.

The investment, part of Ontario’s broader plan to protect and strengthen the province’s food systems, is designed to give farmers access to cutting-edge research and technology. The initiative comes as farmers face growing pressures from global competition and new U.S. tariffs.

“Our government is taking action to protect Ontario’s agri-food sector, and we are proud to support farmers and business owners,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Through investments in research and innovation, we are ensuring farmers and business owners have the best solutions to remain competitive against tariffs and ensure families can continue to buy high-quality, Ontario-made food with pride.”

Strengthening Ontario’s Research Network
A key component of the funding includes $10.5 million for the new Ontario Poultry Research Centre at the Elora Research Station. The facility will serve Ontario’s 1,200 chicken and turkey producers and 432 egg farmers, focusing on animal welfare, reproduction, meat quality, and safety. The province had already committed $13.5 million to the project, bringing the total provincial investment to $24 million.

The new centre is one of several ARIO facilities to benefit from this round of investment. The province will also allocate $15.5 million to the new Ontario Feed Innovation Centre, also located at Elora, which will focus on nutritional research for swine, poultry, small ruminants, and aquaculture. Additional funds will support repairs and upgrades across the ARIO network, including improvements to the Dairy Education Centre at the Ridgetown campus, ensuring the continuation of leading-edge research to benefit farmers and agribusinesses across Ontario.

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