Construction now underway on new dairy research facility

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

by MATT MCINTOSH

A new livestock research facility is under construction at the University of Guelph's Elora research station.

The 170,000 square foot Livestock Research and Innovation Center is a $25 million project designed to modernize the university's current dairy research buildings, which were built in the 1960s.

"The old facility was built in a time when the emphasis was on production. This new addition will build on that, but focus more on developing high value food products and processes," says Karen Chan, assistant deputy minister, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food at the facility’s ground breaking ceremony earlier this month.

Construction of the new facility should be finished by October 31, 2014.

Funding for the project came from the province, which invested $20 million through a partnership agreement with the University of Guelph, and DFO, which has pledged $5 million.

"Having a place where we can teach our professionals is very important to the industry's success," says Bill Emmott, Dairy Farmers of Ontario chair. Emmott also attended the ceremony. "Times have changed, and the facility will help us modernize (improve product quality) and stay competitive." BF