The Ontario government is helping advance the pork sector and drive more innovation in farming through the construction of a new swine research facility.
The new infrastructure investment in Elora will use state-of-the-art technology to meet advanced research and training needs in the swine sector – which represents over 1,200 producers in the province – for decades to come.
“Our government is committed to supporting the development of farming technologies that create good jobs and help the economy grow,” said Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “We want to help farmers succeed and better position the pork sector for further growth and competitiveness now and for years to come.”
Agri-food research is important to help bring new technologies and processes to market and develop new practices for on-farm solutions. This investment in agri-food research will benefit all Ontarians by helping to foster competitiveness, create jobs and provide safe and healthy food.
“Ontario Pork is proud to be part of this joint investment in a state-of-the-art swine research facility that will advance knowledge and support the development of new technologies and practices,” said Eric Schwindt, Chair of the Ontario Pork Producers’ Marketing Board. “This new facility will draw industry investment and research talent to southern Ontario and will ensure the pork sector remains a vital contributor to economic growth in the province. We look forward to working with our partners in the Government of Ontario and at the University of Guelph as this exciting project comes to fruition.”
“As Canada’s food university, the University of Guelph brings a breadth and depth of agri-food expertise to sustain and further strengthen our food system,” said President Franco Vaccarino. “The provincial government’s investment in this new facility will help U of G researchers and our partners explore key questions and develop new solutions to help our agri-food sector maintain its reputation for global excellence.”
“This investment will help ensure Ontario maintains its competitive advantage and long-term sustainability in the research and innovation of agri-food and agri-products,” said Dr. Lorne Hepworth, Chair of the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario.
Quick Facts
The new swine research facility will have capacity for a wide number of research disciplines, including animal health, nutrition and welfare; consumer-oriented research; environmental factors; genetics/genomics; nutrient management; and reproduction.
The new research facility is a partnership between the province (through the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario) and 1,200 industry producers through Ontario Pork and the University of Guelph.
Swine research in the province will be relocated from the current Arkell
Research Station to the recently expanded Elora Research Station.
The new facility, estimated to cost $15 million ($12 million from the Ontario government through the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario and $3 million from Ontario Pork), has recently entered the design phase and is expected to take up to three years to complete.
