Alliance researchers receive funding to develop sustainable agricultural solutions for Canada's poultry sector
Six University of Guelph researchers will explore novel approaches to improving poultry healthy and food safety with over $3 million from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) through the Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC).
This funding is part of more than $5.1 million provided to the CPRC through the AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
These projects will leverage funding from across industry, as well as provincial and federal governments, including the the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, to support a thriving and competitive agri-food sector.
- Dr. Shayan Sharif will study avian influenza, developing strategies to reduce the spread of disease in the face of a changing climate. Separately, he will also explore whether certain bacteria may help control chicken diseases by blocking cell-to-cell communication that fuels intestinal disease development.
- Dr. Alexandra Harlander will study the activity and physical development of chicken embryos and young birds.
- Dr. Nicole Ricker will explore the use of bacteriophages (viruses that can only infect bacterial cells), administered alone or with gut-modifying feeds, as potential alternatives to antibiotics for battling Salmonella infections in poultry.
- Dr. Elijah Kiarie will receive $269,264 to evaluate fruit pomaces (waste by-products from fruit processing that include skin, pulp, seeds, stems) as potential feed ingredients to enhance bird health, performance and food safety.
- Dr. Animesh Dutta will develop a thermochemical process for generating biochar from poultry litter.
- Dr. Keith Warriner will explore the use of antimicrobial gas-phase hydroxyl radicals to safely disinfect eggs in hatcheries.
Read more about the funded research projects: Six U of G Researchers Receive Funding to Study Animal Health and Food Safety - U of G News