A newly completed economic impact assessment shows that investments in pork sector research are delivering a strong return for Canadian producers — generating approximately eight dollars in value for every dollar invested.
The findings will be explored during a national webinar on February 18, hosted by Swine Innovation Porc (SIP), which commissioned the study From Research to Results: Measuring the Impact of Pork Research in Canada.
The assessment was led by Dr. Stuart Smyth, Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan, and examined research investments made by SIP between 2010 and the end of 2023.
Over that period, SIP invested in more than 70 research projects involving universities, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and private research organizations across the country — from British Columbia to the Maritimes.
According to Dr. Smyth, the study evaluated both the scale of investment and the tangible benefits generated for the pork sector.
“One of the key findings is that we found a significant return on investment for pork farmers in Canada,” Smyth said. “For every dollar invested into swine research by pork producers, it generates about eight dollars in value returned to them.”
The assessment estimates that pork research during the 15-year period generated approximately $225 million in total economic benefits for the Canadian economy.
While increased demand for pork products contributed to the overall impact, a substantial portion of the gains came directly from research outcomes — particularly improvements in feed use efficiency, one of the sector’s leading research focus areas.
Dr. Smyth noted that the benefits extend well beyond individual farms.
“The impact reaches pork producers across the country and ultimately benefits consumers as well.”
Producers and industry stakeholders can access the full agenda and register for the February 18 SIP webinar by visiting the Upcoming Events section at swineinnovationporc.ca.
