CPRC Update – February 2013

Last fall, the Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC) hosted a series of six workshops across Canada in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Workshop objectives were to:

1. Present and discuss the National Research Strategy for Canada’s Poultry Sector issued in August 2012 and available on CPRC’s website
2. Review progress to date of the current Poultry Science Cluster co-funded by industry, provincial governments and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Growing Forward program
3. Explore potential elements and partners for a new Cluster under AAFC’s AgriInnovation program scheduled to begin April 1, 2013

The workshop series was part of CPRC’s industry outreach activities to foster ongoing discussion among those involved in Canadian poultry research as well as those who benefit from research discoveries including producers, input suppliers, processors and consumers.

Input on Cluster Development

The main thrust of the agenda was to draw on the broad pool of expertise and representation among workshop participants to receive input on ways that industry can leverage the research completed in the present Poultry Science Cluster and other industry research activities to maintain Canada’s poultry research initiatives. These initiatives will include both the AgriInnovation Science Cluster and ongoing project research supported through a variety of funding sources.

Participants were asked what they liked about CPRC’s approach to development of a potential Cluster application; several themes emerged from responses:

• A broadly based, balanced approach: Many participants liked that the potential Cluster includes a range of scientific disciplines and that CPRC intends to balance forthcoming funds between Cluster research and individual projects.
• Based on industry needs: Participants recognized that the potential Cluster construct aligns with industry-identified research priority areas and target outcomes as described in the National Research Strategy.
• Collaboration: The participants appreciated efforts to solicit input from research groups across the country and encourage them to work together to address research issues.
• Long-term vision: The relatively long (five-year) time frame of the Cluster program was appreciated by most. Even more so was CPRC’s vision beyond the Cluster to promote sustained funding for poultry research in general.
• Theme categorization: The participants generally agreed with dividing the cluster application into three broad themes, under each of which specific research activities could be listed.

Participant suggestions to improve the potential Cluster application also fell into themes:

• Consider using international collaboration.
• Promote multidisciplinary research and collaboration.
• Take strategic approaches.
• Improve communication.
• Maintain flexibility.
• Consider the needs of all industry commodities.
• Secure stable sources of funding.

Next steps

While preparing the Cluster application, CPRC considered all of the valuable feedback received during, and subsequent to, the workshops. A CPRC subcommittee, representing each of the national poultry organizations, identified proposals of particular interest to industry. Proposals were reviewed by CPRC’s Scientific Advisory Committee to ensure scientific merit and several of these research ideas are being incorporated into a Cluster application, to be submitted to AAFC by the end of March.

For more details on these or any other CPRC activities, please contact the Canadian Poultry Research Council, 350 Sparks Street, Suite 1007, Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7S8, phone: 613-566-5916, fax: 613-241-5999, e-mail: info@cp-rc.ca, or visit us online 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.