$4 million investment by AAFC for poultry research

February 18, 2014, Guelph, Ont. — Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today announced an investment of $4 million to the Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC).

The research will focus on helping the poultry processing industry remain competitive, while addressing consumer concerns about poultry welfare and environmental preservation. This will include developing new vaccines, finding viable alternatives to the use of dietary antibiotics in chicken production, reducing the environmental footprint of poultry farms and providing poultry farmers access to high-calibre training opportunities.

This investment builds on research funding previously received through AAFC’s Canadian Agri-Science Clusters Initiative as part of Growing Forward.This investment is made through the Industry-led Research and Development stream of AAFC’s AgriInnovation Program, a five-year, up to $698-million initiative under Growing Forward 2.

Roelef Meijer, chair of the Canadian Poultry Research Council says that Canada’s poultry industry has made embracing innovation part of the industry’s vision in recognition of the need to be dynamic and to foster efficiency for farmers and its industry partners.

“This announcement of funding for a second Poultry Science Cluster is a substantial contribution to the sector’s future,” he says.  “It will enable researchers to find more immediate answers to industry issues and to provide important information to farmers, stakeholders and consumers.”