Swine Health Information Center Research Investment Hits Record Level in 2025

Feb 23, 2026

The Swine Health Information Center's 2025 Progress Report shows SHIC's commitment to research funding set a new record in 2025. Launched in 2015 in response to the introduction of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea, with funding provided through the Pork Checkoff, the Swine Health Information Center is focused on preventing future transboundary disease incursions through global and domestic swine health monitoring, discovery of emerging disease threats and coordinated research.

SHIC's 2025 Progress Report, released as part of its February eNewsletter, is now available at swinehealth.org.Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder says 2025 saw the highest research investment since SHIC's inception.

Quote-Dr. Megan Niederwerder-Swine Health Information Center:

The Swine Health Information Center receives dollars from the Pork Checkoff through the National Pork Board.That's been how the center was launched and continues today.As we think about what we've been able to do with those Pork Checkoff dollars, we can look at the ability to leverage the Pork Checkoff dollars for matching and external grants that have typically, over the center's existence, been from federal sources.

One of the aspects of the 2025 progress report was a highlight about SHIC's ability to secure matching funds and external grants in the amount of over five million dollars from 2022 to 2025. This is really important because it provided approximately 49 cents of external dollars for every dollar of checkoff support we received.In 2025 we actually had the greatest research investment in the Swine Health Information Center's history.We contracted just over 4.4 million dollars of swine health research across 32 research projects in 2025.

Dr. Niederwerder says the center was able to take that checkoff dollar, leverage it with federal dollars, align priorities and increase the scientific network of individuals who are working on innovation for the pork industry.To access SHIC's 2025 Progress Report visit swinehealth.org. For more visit Farmscape.Ca.

Source : Farmscape.ca

Video: Genomic Technologies and Public Trust - Dr. Ellen Goddard

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Ellen Goddard, Professor Emerita at the University of Alberta, discusses public acceptance of genomic technologies in pork production. She explains why disease resistance is viewed positively, how labeling affects trust, why farmers remain highly credible messengers, and how communication can shape consumer confidence around gene editing. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Not providing information is a choice that can affect long-term public trust."

Meet the guest: Dr. Ellen Goddard / ellen-goddard-11541138 is Professor Emerita at the University of Alberta and an agricultural economist. Her work focuses on consumer behavior, trust, livestock sectors, and public attitudes toward food technologies. She also specializes in economic modeling for pork, beef, and dairy systems. Learn more from Dr. Ellen Goddard on the Swine in Canada Podcast Show, available on all major platforms.