ELORA, ONTARIO — Ontario is investing C$13.5 ($10.05) million in a new poultry research center, which will be in Elora. It will support animal welfare, reproduction, nutrition, meat quality and food safety.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024 and be completed by 2026.

The center is made possible through a partnership between the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO) and the province’s four poultry industry boards — Chicken Farmers of Ontario, Egg Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Commission and Turkey Farmers of Ontario.

“The Poultry Research Centre of Excellence will help to further establish Ontario as a leader in innovation, sustainability, animal welfare and food safety,” said Murray Opsteen, chair for the Chicken Farmers of Ontario. “Chicken Farmers of Ontario is committed to supporting the research and innovation needs necessary to advance the chicken industry, and the broader Ontario agriculture community. On behalf of the 1,300 chicken farming families across Ontario, we thank Minister Thompson and OMAFRA for your advocacy for the sector.”

Ontario is home to more than 2,600 poultry and egg farms. In 2021, its poultry contributed around C$1.8 billion to the province’s economy.

Ontario’s agri-food sector contributes over C$47.6 billion and provides more than 750,000 jobs in the province.

“As part of the Grow Ontario Strategy, our government is focused on enhancing our research and innovation capabilities across the agri-food sector,” said Lisa Thompson, minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs. “This research center will, once completed, equip our poultry industry with the tools and the knowledge to stay competitive while creating jobs, growing the economy and ensuring supply chain security.”