Canadian Centre for Fur Animal Research opened at NSAC

Bible Hill-- The Canadian Centre for Fur Animal Research was officially opened this morning on the campus of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College by its president Dr. T. Philip Hicks, Dr. Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and Mr. Gary Hazlewood, Managing Director of the Canada Mink Breeders Association. The Centre will facilitate world-leading, applied science research.

“I am extremely proud of our research capacity here at NSAC,” said university president, Dr. Philip Hicks. “The continued success of our faculty members in these prestigious competitions, speaks to the calibre of our faculty and to the quality of education we provide our students; they are learning from the best.”

Located on the NSAC campus, the Centre is the only one of its kind in North America and houses some of the most sought-after research expertise on the continent. The Centre’s researchers, Dr. Kirsti-Rouvinen Watt, Dr. Hossain Farid and Dr. Derek Anderson, are focusing on reducing waste streams in the food industry by using food industry waste and byproducts as feedstuffs for mink; long-term genetic studies for genome mapping and identifying DNA markers and the evaluation of the effects of housing and management systems on animal health and productivity.

Not only does this research benefit the food industry, it also reduces input costs for mink producers, a $35 million export business for Nova Scotia last year. In addition, through their research on mink nursing sickness, NSAC researchers are investigating a possible link to Type 2 diabetes in humans and companion animals.

“This is great news for our provincial mink industry. This Centre will expand and upgrade the existing mink research facilities and will further serve the mink industry through its research, education and technology development." said Chris d'Entremont, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Centre is a collaborative, industry-centred research initiative that delivers knowledge to a range of industries including the fur animal sector. It is a shining example of Nova Scotia’s ability to attract and maintain the world’s best researchers and innovators and is central to providing quality applied-science education to university students.

The $750,000 facility, expands and upgrades the existing mink research facilities at the university and will serve the research, education and technology development needs of the national mink industry. The key components of the project included the research mink herd, animal housing and management, data collection, animal identification and bio-security.

“Today’s opening of the Canadian Centre for Fur Animal Research is a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnerships,” said Dr. Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO of the CFI. “The investment we are celebrating today will strengthen Canada’s capacity to effectively compete locally, nationally and internationally in this important area of research.”Funding for this project was provided by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canada/Nova Scotia Agreement on Economic Diversification and the Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Trust. Breeding stock for the research herd has been provided by the mink industry and the Nova Scotia Mink Breeders Association.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI's mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and other non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians.