New Dairy Complex at Research Centre
CANADA - Canadian Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), Jean-Pierre Blackburn, has officially opened a new federal complex for dairy production research at the Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre in Sherbrooke.
22 October 2010
2 minute read
Construction of these science facilities comes as a result of a $12 million investment under the Modernizing Federal Laboratories Initiative of the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan.
"This investment will enable the federal research centre in Sherbrooke to maintain its status for excellence nationally and internationally, and to respond better than ever to the industry's ever-increasingly high standards," said Minister Blackburn.
"Through this investment, the Government of Canada is promoting the growth and consolidation of dairy production research in Canada to the benefit of producers, agricultural professionals and all consumers."
This new infrastructure, containing research equipment at the leading edge of technology, enables the Centre to continue innovative scientific research recognised worldwide and to retain its reputation as a leader in the field.
It will enable our already highly qualified researchers to carry out blue-chip research, to attract collaborators and to form a critical mass of scientific expertise.
Some of the Centre's key areas of research are nutrition, physiology, immunology and molecular biology as well as lessening the environmental impact of dairy production and improving the quality of the foodstuffs produced.
At the official opening, Jacques Laforge, President of the Dairy Farmers of Canada was thrilled with the project's completion.
"The Dairy Farmers of Canada appreciate the major investments that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is making toward dairy production research," said Mr Laforge.
"The new Sherbrooke research complex is a reflection of our long collaboration. We are especially proud of the new partnerships launched as part of the Canadian Agri-Science Clusters initiative, Milk and milk products: Innovations in nutrition, health and sustainable development."
Minister Blackburn used the event to invite producers and agricultural professionals, students and the general public to tour the new facilities during the "Open House" days planned for Friday and Saturday, 22 and 23 October as part of National Science and Technology Week.
In Canada's Economic Action Plan announced in the 2009 Budget, the Government of Canada committed to establishing an accelerated investment program to provide C$250 million over two years for the modernisation of federal laboratories.
This funding, one of many job-creating investments under the Economic Action Plan, will modernize these facilities while stimulating regional economies.
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