The end of 2008 marked another year of growth for the Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC). Activities were, and continue to be, on the rise as the CPRC implements its strategic plan to address its members’ needs. Below are some highlights of 2008 with a few notes on where we are going in 2009 and beyond.
The end of 2008 marked another year of growth for the Canadian Poultry
Research Council (CPRC). Activities were, and continue to be, on the
rise as the CPRC implements its strategic plan to address its members’
needs. Below are some highlights of 2008 with a few notes on where we
are going in 2009 and beyond.
RESEARCH FUNDING
As highlighted in the 2007 Annual Report (the first official such report for CPRC), presented at the Annual General Meeting in March 2008, the CPRC has committed over $1 million in support of 20 research projects. Seventeen of these projects are grouped into national research programs that are consistent with agreed priorities. These priorities are set during regularly scheduled national workshops with academic, government and industry representatives (next one in 2010). Request for letters of intent are sent to researchers in April of each year. Each of the priorities receives focus on a rotating basis. The remaining three projects are funded under CPRC’s ad hoc policy, which is designed to address acute or emerging needs that may fall outside the priority areas. Two new projects got underway in 2008, with a further 6 under review by potential partners. It is a prerequisite for CPRC funding that a project secure matching funds from another partner(s) before it releases funds. This process ensures that industry dollars granted through CPRC are matched or “leveraged” to the greatest extent possible. Increasing leveraging is a major focus for the CPRC.
SCHOLARSHIP SUPPLEMENT
Each year, the CPRC awards a supplement to a student working in some aspect of poultry science and who is also a holder of a scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). The 2008 supplement was awarded to Megan MacDonald at the University of Alberta. Details of Megan’s work, as well as that of students awarded the supplement in 2006 and 2007 were detailed in the September 2008 issue of the “CPRC Update” and are posted on the CPRC website. The scholarship supplement is designed to help attract the best and brightest students to the poultry sector, rather than pursue studies in other sectors. Part of CPRC’s mission is to help ensure the future prosperity of our industry through training new scientists and industry professionals. The supplement is one way to attract new young individuals to our sector. Details of how to apply can be found under “Updates” on the CPRC website.
WELFARE CLUSTER
The CPRC, in conjunction with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), agreed to facilitate the development of a cluster of poultry welfare and behaviour expertise in Canada. The University of Guelph, through a transparent review process, was chosen as the most appropriate location. At press time, final touches were being made to an agreement between AAFC, the University of Guelph, Poultry Industry Council and CPRC to co-locate an AAFC research scientist at the University. This scientist will work alongside the many welfare and behaviour experts already at Guelph. Efforts are also underway to establish a Chair of Poultry Welfare Research in Canada. If successful, these efforts will result in an additional, fulltime position at Guelph that will include not only aspects of research and student training, but also a coordination role to help ensure that researchers across the country working in various related fields are aware of, and working to address, industry’s concerns relating to poultry welfare and behaviour.
FUNDING WORKSHOP
Last month’s CPRC Update summarized the “Funding Poultry Research in Canada” workshop held in October. A full report has since been released and posted on the CPRC website. A major outcome of the workshop was a consensus among participants that CPRC should take on a greater role as the national coordinator and voice for Canadian poultry research. The CPRC is currently examining its capacity and will further define its role in 2009.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
All of the above activities are consistent with CPRC’s strategic plan. The Plan was formalized at the end of 2007 and developed through 2008. It is centred on maximizing the impact of Canada’s poultry research investment. In keeping with the theme of its strategic plan and the message from the participants of the recent workshop on “Funding Poultry Research”, the CPRC will be undertaking a greater leadership role at the national level with respect to many aspects of Canadian poultry research. Efforts will be made to improve communication and collaboration among the various organizations that support poultry research in Canada. We will keep you apprised of these efforts in future updates.
For more details on any CPRC activities, please contact Gord Speksnijder at The Canadian Poultry Research Council, 483 Arkell Road, R.R. #2, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 6H8, phone: (289) 251-2990, fax: (519) 837-3584, email: info@cp-rc.ca, or visit us at www.cp-rc.ca .
The membership of the CPRC consists of the Chicken Farmers of Canada, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers, Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency, Egg Farmers of Canada and the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors’ Council. CPRC’s mission is to address its members’ needs through dynamic leadership in the creation and implementation of programs for poultry research in Canada.
Print this page
