Egg industry gets economic research chair

Oct. 14, 2010 – Université Laval vice-president of research and innovation Paul Fortier has announced the launch of the very first economic research chair on the egg industry. The purpose of the chair will be to stimulate the creation of cutting-edge university knowledge about the egg producing industry while generating information that promotes the growth and development of this ever-changing sector.

The event took place in the presence of Laurent Souligny, Chairman of Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC), and Maurice Doyon, professor at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences and holder of this new chair.

Professor Doyon and his colleagues will be interested in issues such as the economic impact of disease control, concerns about the pricing model, international agreements on trade, and the costs and benefits associated with reducing the industry’s eco-footprint. They will also study changes in egg consumption habits, the rapid growth of the specialty egg market, growing consumer interest in the functional properties of these foods, and the impact of animal welfare on product demand.

The creation of this one-of-a-kind chair in Canada is made possible thanks to the contribution of Egg Farmers of Canada, which will dedicate $770,000 to the chair over the next seven years.

“The scientific knowledge created by Dr. Doyon and his multidisciplinary team will help the egg industry remain a leader in the Canadian agricultural sector as well as contribute to its international development,” said Vice-President Fortier.

“We need the brightest minds in our academic institutions to guide the egg industry forward,” said Mr. Souligny. “That’s why I am proud to call Université Laval a partner of Egg Farmers of Canada, and I thank Vice-President Fortier, Professor Doyon and the entire University administration for taking this important step to establish the first-ever Economic Research Chair on the Egg Industry.”