Advancing Swine Research

Advancing Swine Research Call for Proposals

 
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Background

Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) initiated this call for proposals to address some of the biggest challenges facing the pork industry, with a focus on improving resiliency, sustainability, and competitiveness.

SIP is proceeding with an initial announcement of four projects that are fully approved and ready to move forward, with additional approved projects to be announced as partner co-funding agreements are finalized.

Research priorities were shaped through collaboration with provincial pork organizations and industry stakeholders, ensuring the call for proposals reflects what matters most to the sector.

With support from the Pork Promotion and Research Agency (PPRA), SIP is advancing research that delivers new knowledge and practical, real-world solutions to strengthen the pork industry’s long-term success

STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS

We’re turning PPRA investments into strategic and nationally coordinated research that delivers targeted impact for Canada’s pork sector.

  • This call was implemented as a pilot, enabling SIP and partners to build a structured research funding framework for the strategic deployment of PPRA funds.
  • Research priorities and program design were developed in consultation with SIP members and industry partners and guided by the SIP board of directors.
  • The pilot process is building a platform for national co-ordination of research funding beyond the five-year cluster, ensuring investments target key industry priorities.
  • High volume and quality of proposals made this a highly competitive call, advancing projects with strong potential for industry impact.
  • Experience gained through this pilot strengthens the framework for deploying PPRA funds strategically. This positions SIP to lead future national research programs, providing a foundation for greater coordination of collaboratively funded research in the pork sector

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Swine Innovation Porc is pleased to announce the advancement of the first research projects under our Advancing Swine Research Call for Proposals, a national initiative designed to strengthen the resiliency, sustainability, and competitiveness of Canada’s pork sector.

Supported by the Pork Promotion and Research Agency, this highly competitive, industry-guided call has already resulted in four approved projects, representing the first set of investments under the initiative, with additional projects to be announced as partner co-funding decisions are finalized.

For these four projects, SIP will invest up to $488,347, leveraging up to $1.18 million in total project funding across priority areas including housing systems, animal health, energy efficiency, and product quality. This milestone reflects the value of a nationally coordinated, producer-driven approach to research and underscores SIP’s commitment to delivering practical, high-impact innovation for producers and processors across the Canadian pork sector.

Finding the optimal loose lactation system and management for Canadian Pig production

  • Priority AreaAlternative Housing
  • Lead InvestigatorJen-Yun Chou
  • Lead InstitutionPrairie Swine Centre
  • Project Length3 Years
  • Total Project Value$439,200
  • SIP Funds$149,978

This project will lead research into alternative farrowing and lactation housing systems in Canada to examine their effects on pig productivity and welfare, user experience, management adaptation and cost-benefit analysis, to provide science-based advice for Canadian pork producers. Conducted in Saskatchewan at Prairie Swine Centre and in Ontario at the Ontario Swine Research Centre, this is a three-year project.

The specific objectives of this project are:

  1. Evaluate sow and piglet performance in two loose lactation systems compared with a conventional farrowing crate
  2. Assess the timing of crate opening on sow and piglet performance
  3. Investigate the efficiency of loose lactation using a weaning age of four weeks and compare with three week weaning
  4. Find the optimal nesting material to be effective and feasible in fully slatted farrowing housing
  5. Determine if nesting materials and greater movement improve maternal behavior in sows
  6. Understand how different farrowing system and nesting materials influence piglets’ adaptation postweaning
  7. Explore the benefits and challenges of loose farrowing for farrowing staff

Developing a bivalent vaccine for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV)

  • Priority AreaEndemic Diseases
  • Lead InvestigatorQiang Liu
  • Lead InstitutionVIDO
  • Project Length3 Years
  • Total Project Value$368,143
  • SIP Funds$150,000

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) single or co-infections of neonatal piglets cause devastating economic losses to the swine industry. This project will develop a subunit vaccine with effective protection against PEDV and PDCoV infections. This project will be conducted at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan and will take three years

The specific objectives of this project are:

  1. Design, express and purify a subunit vaccine candidate consisting of the spike S1 proteins of PEDV and PDCoV
  2. Evaluate the immunogenicity of the vaccine candidates formulated with different adjuvants in mouse and piglet trials
  3. Test the protective efficacy of the vaccine against PEDV and PDCoV challenge in newborn piglets by vaccine-induced lactogenic immunity in sows

Mitigating heat stress in finishing barns through passive radiative cooling

  • Priority AreaEnergy Efficiency
  • Lead InvestigatorSébastien Fournel
  • Lead InstitutionUniversité Laval
  • Project Length1 Year
  • Total Project Value$100,000
  • SIP Funds$50,000

The study aims to reduce heat stress in pig barns by applying an innovative reflective coating on the exterior surfaces of the buildings. By reflecting more sunlight and releasing heat better, the 125-μm thick layer of paint made from polymers and pigments can keep pigs in a cooler and more comfortable environment, maintaining animal performance and reducing energy consumption. This project will be conducted over one year at two barns in Québec.

The specific objectives of this project are:

  1. Assess the effects of PDRC coatings on indicators of heat stress and animal performance in pig barns
  2. Compare energy consumption between PDRCcoated and uncoated barns

Risk Assessment of lowering internal temperature for Canadian Pork cuts: safety and eating quality implications

  • Priority AreaProduct Quality
  • Lead InvestigatorNuria Prieto
  • Lead InstitutionAAFC Lacombe
  • Project Length3 Year
  • Total Project Value$276,738
  • SIP Funds$138,369

In Canada, pork must be cooked to a higher temperature (71°C) than in the U.S., where a lower temperature of 63°C has been mandated since 2011. This difference may be one reason why people in the U.S. are eating more pork, while consumption in Canada is declining. This research aims to find out if a lower internal cooking temperature can still be safe in Canada, while also making pork taste better and helping the industry grow. This is a three-year project that will be conducted at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lacombe, Alberta.

The specific objectives of this project are:

  1. Conduct a safety risk assessment of lowering internal cooking temperature in Canadian pork to provide science-based evidence for lowering internal cooking temperature in Canadian pork cuts safely
  2. Conduct an eating quality risk assessment of lowering internal cooking temperature in Canadian pork to provide science-based evidence for lowering internal cooking temperature in Canadian pork cuts by enhancing consumer eating experience and satisfaction

Contact

For More information, please contact:

Alison Lee
Manager of Research Development
Email: research@swineinnovationporc.ca
Phone:  (343) 300-5743