Thank you, Jacob.
Research and innovation is like any other value chain for any other activity that impacts stakeholders at various parts of the chain. Research activities can be viewed as a continuum with major categories including primary or conceptual research, applied research, innovation, and application.
Each stage of the research value chain builds on results from the previous one. A break or weakness in any part of the chain has a negative impact on the other parts and a significant reduction in the return on investment in the research activity.
Factors that will impact the efficiency and effectiveness of the poultry research value chain include accurate identification of issues facing the poultry industry at all points of the production system that is clearly communicated to all parts of the value chain; highly qualified people and modem physical infrastructure; management and coordination of activities to ensure that resources are used effectively; speedy transfer of research and innovation results to the next point on the chain; funding that is carefully managed to balance activities along the chain.
The last point is of critical importance. There is always pressure to concentrate funds at one or another point in the chain. Some believe that we can import primary and applied research from other countries, but this ignores the reality of Canada's geography, weather, and demographic changes. Alternatively, a concentration only on primary and applied research will block or slow the adoption of research discoveries and the resulting economic and social benefits. Funding has to be available to all components of the value chain to ensure a complete, efficient, and effective national research and innovation program that maximizes benefits to the industry, consumers, and society.
Research and innovation are vitally important to the poultry sector. Poultry research and innovation in Canada face challenges in relation to maintaining and enhancing the Canadian poultry research value chain. We have lost poultry research and extension positions at federal and provincial governments and universities. Educational programs at our universities struggle to maintain comprehensive poultry education programs. Many research facilities are old or have been closed.
The poultry industry recognizes the challenges of maintaining the assets necessary to support a comprehensive poultry research structure and is taking steps to ensure future Canadian poultry research capacity. These steps include the development of a national poultry research strategy; enhancement of CPRC to better coordinate national poultry research in cooperation with industry, government, and other partners; a renewed emphasis on consumer- and society-focused research and innovation; and commitment of funds to support the poultry research and innovation value chain.
The federal government is an important partner in the value chain through its internal research capacity, communications ability, and funding. We recommend that the Growing Forward 2 program commit sufficient funds to poultry research and innovation to maintain and enhance the present system's capacity. Programs must recognize the structure of the research value chain so that all parts, from primary research to application, are sufficiently funded. We also recommend the establishment of structures to support communication aimed at adoption of discoveries and innovations as quickly as possible; and the establishment of structures to cooperate with other interests such as health, education, and environment to address common issues.
We thank you for the opportunity to provide input to the House of Commons standing committee in its Growing Forward 2 deliberations.