Representatives of the Federal and Manitoba governments, Manitoba Pork Council and the University of Manitoba gathered yesterday to outline funding details for a the construction of an Agricultural By-Products Processing Research and Demonstration Facility at the University of Manitoba's Glenlea Research Station, home to the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment.

Lynne Yelich, the Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, says the centre will conduct innovative research that will help position Manitoba as a leader in the treatment of agricultural by-products.

Lynne Yelich-Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification

Our government is committed to working in partnership with organisations like yours to support economic development and growth in key industry sectors like agriculture.

Today I'm happy to announce that our government in partnership with the province of Manitoba is investing close to one million dollars to assist the Manitoba Pork Council in developing the new by-products processing and demonstration facility.

This centre will conduct innovative research that will help position Manitoba as a leader in the treatment of agricultural by-products.

By-processing technologies will be developed and tested under the harsh Manitoba climate and soil conditions and this research will provide livestock producers with access and valid objective information and in turn reduce the risk in adopting new technologies.

Ultimately the enhanced approach to by-product management and the new products resulting from this research will help producers remain competitive in today's market.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2011 and the new facility is expected to be operational by the end of 2011 or in early 2012.