The Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC) is preparing for a national poultry research workshop May 12 and 13.
The Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC) is preparing for a national poultry research workshop May 12 and 13. The purpose of the event, to be held in Ottawa, is to examine the current state of poultry research in Canada and consider what should be done to address current and emerging issues. Broadly speaking, the workshop will look at where we are and where we need to go.
Where we are:
The arena of poultry research in Canada has changed from years past when major emphasis was placed on increasing agricultural productivity. While productivity research remains important, emphasis is shifting towards addressing issues like environmental sustainability, food safety, and poultry welfare. There is also research interest in assessing new market opportunities such as functional foods, industrial products and pharmaceuticals. The research community is tasked with an increasingly broad range of issues yet has limited human, physical and financial resources to do so.
The future success of the poultry industry depends on using our research resources wisely. These resources are dispersed across the country. In many cases, organizations that fund poultry research do so in virtual isolation of other organizations with similar objectives. While scientists are generally better at communicating with others in their field, there are still many opportunities to increase collaboration among individuals and institutions with different, complementary expertise.
The federal government clearly agrees with the need for collaboration among scientists and is promoting the formation of “science clusters,” or groups of scientists working towards common goals. CPRC submitted a science cluster proposal early this year (funding decisions are expected this spring) that involves more than 20 scientists at nine institutions working together to address agreed-upon priority areas. While this collaborative effort is a step in the right direction, it is only a hint of what might be accomplished in the future.
Where we need to go:
The workshop in May will give participants the opportunity to review recent research funded by industry and discuss whether intended objectives were met. “Objectives” include not only the direct results of the research, but also consider the training of students and personnel, and whether the cost of the research was money well spent. If the research funded in the past did not have the desired outcome, the process by which future funding decisions are made may need adjustment.
Workshop participants will also re-examine CPRC’s research priorities (set in 2005) and adjust them if necessary. These priorities are the basis for national research programs.
Further to prioritizing which research needs to be done, we need to consider how our limited physical, human and financial resources can be used to maximum effect. There are a number of industry, government and academic organizations that fund poultry research across Canada. Collaboration and co-ordination among these organizations will maximize the impact of their collective investment. CPRC is facilitating development of a national poultry research strategy that will foster this collaboration. The strategy is being developed in consultation with the various funders of poultry research across Canada. The goal is to create national research programs that are consistent with agreed-upon priorities and to encourage industry and government to invest in the outcomes of the programs. The idea is not to control where individual organizations invest their resources, but rather to encourage them to do so in a manner that avoids unnecessary duplication and maximizes the impact of their investment.
In the face of limited resources and new challenges, we can no longer afford to work in isolation from each other. The best use of our resources and the best chance of success in meeting new challenges will be afforded by working together. An organized collaborative approach to poultry research in Canada will help ensure the future success of our industry. CPRC is working towards that end and looks forward to discussions in May regarding the future of poultry research in Canada.
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.ca.
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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