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Centre of Excellence for Goat Research and Innovation: Since the early 1990s, the agri-food industry in Canada has witnessed growth in the area of goat production. The increase in the number of goats in the province of Ontario, coupled with the decrease in the number of farms reporting goats, further demonstrates that commercial goat production is on the rise. Research and study of the industry is scattered across Canada and most often occurring under the branch of another livestock unit (e.g. GoatGenetics.ca at the Canadian Swine Institute in Ottawa). Lack of official data and regulations for management could be viewed as results of an underdeveloped industry or unexplored research opportunities.

The Innovation Cluster, in partnership with Trent University, the University of Guelph, Ontario Dairy Goat Co-Operative and Ontario Goat have identified the need and opportunity to establish a Centre of Excellence for Goat Research and Innovation. Based on the recommendations of a feasibility study, the partners will establish a not-for-profit that will coordinate research, deliver research results to producers and industry members in the sector, source funds and identify assets that could support various priority areas.

To date, the receipt of funding through the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) has allowed the Innovation Cluster to facilitate an initial research project between Trent University and the University of Guelph.