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This story was first published on RealAgriculture.com on Sept. 4, 2026.
The Government of Canada has announced a federal investment of just over $3 million it says will help safeguard animal health, strengthen sector resilience and support future growth.
Heath MacDonald, minister of agriculture and agri-food, announced the funding Sept. 4 for the Canadian Pork Council through the AgriAssurance Program – National Industry Association Component.
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The funding will support the development, validation and upgrading of multiplex assay technologies — comprehensive lab tests that can screen for multiple domestic swine viruses from a single sample.
“Our pork producers care deeply about their animals and work hard to protect them against infectious diseases. By investing in swine health surveillance solutions, we are continuing to equip the industry with the tools it needs to detect and respond quickly. This funding reflects our commitment to building a resilient, innovative and globally competitive pork sector that continues to thrive for generations to come,” says MacDonald.
The project also includes implementing a targeted national proficiency program to support consistent testing across veterinary labs in Canada and establishing a secure surveillance database to track swine viruses.
This investment will increase the availability of cost-effective, specific and sensitive diagnostic testing for rapid detection of swine intestinal and respiratory viruses, the government says.
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