Dr. Stuart Smyth, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan, is among critics who decry the federal government’s plans to close the agriculture research station at Lacombe, Alberta.
The station is heavily involved in swine research and is the only federal government research station besides the one at Sherbrooke, Quebec, doing pork industry research.
Smyth said any natural disaster at the Sherbrooke station, such as a fire or serious disease outbreak, would leave the industry it trouble.
Canada’s pork industry is one of the best and most competitive in the world, exporting about 70 per cent of what’s produced.
Critics say the planned closure could weaken the country’s long-term competitiveness and increase risk within national swine research efforts.
Smyth, said Canada has benefited for decades from a diversified research network that has helped improve herd health, pork quality, aal welfare and production efficiency.
The researchers at Lacome have advanced swine nutrition, feed efficiency, pork quality and herd management.
Their joint efforts with others has helped support innovation across the Canadian pork value chain, the critics said.
