The year 2009 was one of many activities for the Canadian Poultry
Research Council (CPRC). Activities were, and continue to be, on the
rise as the CPRC works to meet its members’ needs. Below are some
highlights of 2009 with a few notes on where CPRC is going in 2010 and
beyond.
The year 2009 was one of many activities for the Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC). Activities were, and continue to be, on the rise as the CPRC works to meet its members’ needs. Below are some highlights of 2009 with a few notes on where CPRC is going in 2010 and beyond.
Growing Forward . . . together
Major milestones are often best achieved through partnership. The Growing Forward program as delivered nationally by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is an excellent opportunity for the poultry sector to partner with federal government to bolster Canada’s poultry research effort. CPRC, on behalf of the Canadian poultry sector, assembled an application to AAFC to create a poultry science “cluster.” The application involves a number of scientists across Canada working in collaboration to address national research priorities. If the application is successful (results of the review are expected early in 2010), the cluster will secure considerable government funding to match industry’s investment, including previously untapped AAFC support for poultry research.
New research
In parallel with the science cluster, CPRC continued support of its existing research programs. Four new projects got underway in 2009. A further three are under review by potential partners and will not get underway until they secure funding from additional sources. It is a prerequisite for CPRC funding that a project secure matching funds from another partner(s) before funds are released. This requirement ensures that industry dollars granted through CPRC are matched or “leveraged” to the greatest extent possible. CPRC support for its research programs now totals more than $1.4 million, which has been leveraged more than 4:1 with other sources.
Welfare cluster
Canada’s poultry industry announced in April 2009 the formation of a “virtual centre” of poultry behaviour and welfare at the University of Guelph (U of G). The centre consists of a cluster of welfare experts at the university that will communicate and collaborate with animal and poultry welfare scientists across the country. The four-way agreement, signed by the Poultry Industry Council (PIC), CPRC, AAFC and the U of G, includes assignment of an AAFC research scientist, Dr. Stephanie Torrey, to the Department of Animal and Poultry Science at U of G, which represents a significant step forward in AAFC’s support of the poultry sector. Dr. Torrey is developing her research program at Guelph and is collaborating with scientists across Canada on a variety of projects relating to poultry welfare. An advisory committee with representatives of each of the four signing partners will help develop the cluster and provide advice regarding its overall research strategies.
Supporting graduate students
The future success of Canada’s poultry industry will depend on innovations achieved through research. Training future researchers is essential to achieving this success. CPRC’s postgraduate scholarship supplement, developed in conjunction with the National Sciences Engineering Research Council (NSERC), is designed to attract our best and brightest students to pursue studies in poultry science. The 2009 scholarship supplement was awarded to Bushansingh Baurhoo at McGill University. Baurhoo is looking at innovative ways to alter broiler chicken diets that could decrease the need for common antimicrobials. He, along with previous recipients of the scholarship supplement, is an excellent student who has the potential to make significant contributions to the poultry sector.
What’s next
Significant among CPRC’s activities in 2009 were visits with a number of organizations across Canada that have a stake in poultry research. Feedback from these organizations and discussions with CPRC’s members revealed a clear need and desire for CPRC to play a greater role in co-ordinating a national poultry research program, thereby maximizing Canada’s poultry research investment. Pursuing a Canadian poultry science cluster is considered a significant step in the right direction; however, the scope of the cluster is only the beginning of what might be accomplished in the future. CPRC will continue to communicate with funding agencies and other poultry research stakeholders in developing a national poultry research strategy that will foster much more co-ordination and put Canada’s poultry sector in a better position to take full advantage of future opportunities.
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, e-mail: info@cp-rc.ca, or visit us at www.cp-rc.c .
The membership of the CPRC consists of the Chicken Farmers of Canada, the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers, the Turkey Farmers of Canada, the 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, which may also include societal concerns.
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