A new poultry research centre could be coming to the Elora Research Station.
It's part of Ontario's Grow Ontario Strategy released earlier this week, and one of many actions the province has planned to "increase agri-food innovation and adoption."
A ministry spokesperson has confirmed the province, through the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO), has opened a dialogue with Ontario's poultry sector to "potentially develop a new poultry research centre at the Elora Research Station."
"Building such a centre is a priority for the government, and represents the renewal of key livestock research as part of Ontario’s vital agri-food research infrastructure, as most recently seen through our investments in the new swine and beef research centres," spokesperson Christa Roettele said.
Roettele said a project steering committee has been established – including the poultry sector, the ARIO, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the University of Guelph – to look at how the centre "could address the research priorities of the sector now and well into the future."
She added the committee will also look at research priorities "to help inform the scope of a potential centre."
It also seeks to develop an agreement supported by all parties before moving ahead with planning, design and construction.
