See what projects are happening across Canada, and what's listed (so far) 

This page features a list of active projects from Swine Innovation Porc, CDPQ, Prairie Swine Centre, and CCSI. We’ll continue adding projects and participating organizations over time.

If your institution would like to feature ongoing pork research, Contact Us to connect and share your project details.

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Active Project Listing

Project TitleLead Researcher and InstitutionKey TopicBudgetProgramFunder(s)Start YearEnd Year

Optimizing swine production during heat stress: The roles of vitamins in performance, health, and well-being of growing pigs

Laetitia Cloutier, CDPQ

Animal Health, Welfare

 

PIB

MAPAQ

2025

2028


Effect of precision feeding in lactating sows on the economic profitability of pig farms

Laetitia Cloutier, CDPQ

Economics, Animal Health

 

Innovation bioalimentaire 2023-2028, Volet 2 

MAPAQ

2024

2028


Feed pregnant/lactating sows with high levels of selenium in the feed to improve reproductive performance of sows and the survival of newborn piglets, as well as to promote intestinal development in piglets and prevent post-weaning diarrhea

Lucie Galiot, CDPQ

Animal Health

 

Innovation bioalimentaire 2023-2028, Volet 2 

MAPAQ

2024

2028

Application of Artificial Intelligence technologies for improved and sustainable swine production

Laurence Maignel, CCSI

Sustainability

$1.37M

AAFC Agri-Science Projects

AAFC, CPC, other industry

2024

2028

Application of Artificial Intelligence technologies for improved and sustainable swine production

Bernardo Predicala, PSC

Sustainability, Management

 

Agriculture Development Fund (SK)

ADF, Industry

2024

2027

Data inventory and design of a data sharing platform for the Quebec swine industry

Patrick Gagnon, CDPQ

Sustainability

$187K

MAPAQ - PDTS

MAPAQ, Quebec producers

2024

2025

Develop and adapt approaches to reduce heat stress in lactation sows during extreme heat

Sébastien Turcotte, CDPQ

Sustainability, Management

 

Innovation bioalimentaire 2023-2028, Volet 2 

MAPAQ

2024

2027

Developing practical periodic environmental enrichment routines for commercial farms

Miranda Smit, PSC

Animal Welfare

 

ADOPT

SK Ministry of Agriculture

2024

2026

Effect of precision feeding in lactating sows on the economic profitability of pig farms

Laetitia Cloutier, CDPQ

Sustainability, Animal Nutrition

 

MAPAQ - PIB

MAPAQ

2024

2028

Evaluate the impact of adding rubber mats on the performance and welfare of lactating sows

Sébastien Turcotte, CDPQ

 

 

PDTS

MAPAQ

2024

2025

Evaluate the impact of improving environmental conditions on boars at the Quebec Swine Insemination Center through the implementation of cooling strategies

Sébastien Turcotte, CDPQ

Sustainability, Animal Welfare

 

MAPAQ - PDTS

MAPAQ

2024

2025

Evaluating the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in environmental control on the comfort of fattening pigs, zootechnical performance and energy efficiency

Sébastien Turcotte, CDPQ

Sustainability, Management

 

MAPAQ - PIB

MAPAQ

2024

2028

Feeding pregnant/lactating sows high levels of selenium in the diet to improve sow reproductive performance and newborn piglet survival, as well as to promote pig intestinal development

Laetitia Cloutier, CDPQ

Sustainability, Animal Nutrition

 

MAPAQ - PIB

MAPAQ

2024

2028

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

Jen-Yun Chou, PSC

Animal Welfare

 

ADF

SK Ministry of Agriculture

2024

2027

Improving Sow Management and Performance Using Precision Feeding Records

Jen-Yun Chou, PSC

Animal Welfare

 

ADF

SK Ministry of Agriculture

2024

2027

Improving the feed efficiency of pork production through the use of thermal profiles  

Jen-Yun Chou, PSC

Animal Welfare

 

ADF

SK Ministry of Agriculutre

2024

2027

Sharing and promoting data from the Quebec pork industry - Phase 1: Status report and design of a virtual platform

Patrick Gagnon, CDPQ

Management

 

PDTS

MAPAQ

2024

2025

Transition feeding of sows: strategies to improve sow performance and reduce mortality

Laetitia Cloutier, CDPQ

Animal Nutrition

 

Agri-Science

AAFC

2024

2028

A pan-Canadian epidemiological observational case-control study of post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) on Canadian swine farms

Vahab Farzan, University of Guelph

Animal Health

$593K

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC
Ontario Pork
Ontario Agrifood
Alliance
Manitoba Pork

2023

2028

Altering sow microbiome to promote sow productivity and health and performance of piglets

Frederic Guay, University of Laval

Animal Health

$1.03M

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
CRSNG Découverte, Probiotech, 
NSERC, 
Manitoba Pork, 
Jefo, 
Cargill, 
Ontario Agrifood
Alliance, 
CDPQ, CRSAD

2023

2028

​​Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for improved welfare and productivity in commercial sow barns​ 

Patrick Gagnon, CDPQ

Sustainability, Animal Welfare

$635K

Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network 

CAAIN, 
Other industry

2023

2025

Assessing the impact of weaning management practices, handling and transport of weanling piglets at different ages

Luiene Moura Rocha, CDPQ

Animal Welfare

$1.31M

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
Other industry, 
Western College 
of Veterinary
Medcine

2023

2028

Decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, feeding costs and labour requirements by using precision feeding techniques in commercial pig farms

Aline Remus, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Sustainability, Animal Nutrition

$1.88M

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
CDPQ, 
PSC, 
Cargill

2023

2028

Developing a feeding strategy for the transition period to maximize sow milk yield

Chantal Farmer, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Animal Health

$272K

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
PigGen Canada

2023

2028

Development of an oral vaccine to protect piglets against infection with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus

Doug Cossar, PlantForm Corporation

Animal Health

$466K

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
PlantForm

2023

2028

Development of multivalent vaccines for porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED)

Qiang Liu, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan

Animal Health

$680K

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
Manitoba Pork, 
Sask Pork, 
Alberta Pork, 
VIDO

2023

2028

Enhancing pork belly quality across the value chain

Manuel Juarez, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Pork Quality

$820K

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
Genesus

2023

2028

Enhancing Robustness in Pigs Using Advanced Genomics and Machine Learning

Younes Miar, Dalhousie University

Genetics

$1.12M

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
PIC, 
Ontario Pork, 
NSERC

2023

2028

Identification and removal of barriers preventing the use of entire males for Canadian pork production

James Squires, University of Guelph

Animal Welfare, Pork Quality

$959K

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
CCSI, 
NSERC, 
Food From 
Thought 
CFREF

2023

2028

Improving Swine Manure-Digestate Management Practices Towards Carbon Neutrality With Net Zero Emission Concepts

Rajinikanth Rajagopal, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Sustainability, Management

$1.27M

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC
Maple Leaf

2023

2028

Integrated Approaches to Replace Antimicrobials and Promote Health in Weaned Piglets

Chengbo Yang, University of Manitoba

Animal Health

$1.84M

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
Manitoba Pork, NSERC, 
AB Neo, 
Agriculture 
Funding 
Consortium, 
Cargill, 
Ceva

2023

2028

Reducing environmental footprint, feed cost and enhancing global competitiveness of Canadian pork production by increased utilization of energy, nutrients and feedstuffs fed to growing-finishing pigs

Ruurd Zijlstra, University of Alberta

Sustainability, Animal Nutrition

$1.60M

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
DSM, 
AB Vista, 
Synagri, 
Cargill, 
Ontario Pork, 
OMAFA, 
Manitoba Pork, 
CDPQ, 
Olymel, 
AgriMarche

2023

2028

Science-Based Application of Various Forms of Swine Manure to Improve the Environment and Production Sustainability

Tiequan Zhang, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Sustainability, Management

$841K

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
Other industry

2023

2028

Strategies to optimize phosphorus and nitrogen utilization to reduce the environmental footprint and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of Canadian pig production

Marie-Pierre Létourneau Montminy, Université Laval

Sustainability

$1.13M

Swine Innovation Porc - Swine Cluster 4

AAFC, 
Éleveurs de Porc, Laval Research Chair, 
Jefo, 
Belfeed, Manitoba Pork, 
Prairie Swine Centre, 
IRDA, 
CDPQ

2023

2028

Evaluating and optimizing peri-weaning management to improve performance, welfare, and resilience of piglets 

Atta Agyekum, PSC

Animal Nutrition

 

ADF

SK Ministry of Agriculture

2022

2026

Mitigating Mycotoxin Contamination from Grains used in Swine Feed by Adapting Nanotechnology Strategies 

Bernardo Predicala, PSC

Sustainability, Management

 

ADF

SK Ministry of Agriculture

2022

2026

Precision Detection of Real-time Health and Welfare Conditions of Pigs Using Advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technologies 

Bernardo Predicala, PSC

Sustainability, Management

 

ADF

SK Ministry of Agriculture

2022

2026