National Research and Knowledge Transfer Strategy
Investing in our Dairy Future
How was the 2027-2032 Strategy developed?
Background and approach
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) has developed a National Research and Knowledge Transfer (KT) Strategy to guide farmers’ investment in research and KT. The Strategy was developed through collaborative prioritization and a series
of consultations (interviews, a national online survey and reflection workshops) involving provincial dairy organizations, farmers, members of the scientific and professional communities and other industry partners. The Strategy is in line with DFC’s mission to support the growth of the Canadian dairy farming industry through the coordination of innovative and sustainable production.
Why do we need a Strategy?
Targeted impact
The Strategy fosters innovation and supports the long-term growth of the dairy industry, as well as Canada’s food sovereignty. Its implementation aims to increase the sustainability and resilience of dairy farms, optimize dairy cattle health, care and welfare practices, ensure optimal milk quality and composition, and expand the understanding of the role of Canadian dairy products in healthy, nutritious and sustainable diets.
What are the four research themes?
The Strategy is organised into four research themes.
Each theme is broken down into targeted outcomes and research priorities that specify their scope and actions.
What are the research priorities?
Explore the research priorities under each theme and their targeted outcomes:
- Dairy farm sustainability and resilience
- Dairy cattle health, care and welfare
- Milk quality and composition
- Dairy products in human nutrition and health
Targeted Outcomes and Research Priorities
Improve the productivity, quality and resilience of forage systems
- Improve forage yield, resilience, and resistance to pests, diseases, and invasive plants, including through species diversification and the development of new cultivars
- Improve the nutritional value and digestibility of forages
- Optimize forage harvesting and post-harvesting practices
Improve the environmental footprint of dairy farms
- Optimize the climate-smart on-farm carbon management—including through emissions reduction and carbon sequestration—by developing and evaluating best management practices (manure management, high-performance grazing systems, genetics, etc.)
- Optimize integrated on-farm water management—including through reduction, recovery and reuse measures—with a particular focus on identifying and developing practices.
- Improve the identification and documentation of environmental benefits provided by dairy farms, including those related to biodiversity.
Targeted Outcomes and Research Priorities
Enhance animal care and welfare
- Improve the robustness, long-term health and performance of calves and heifers, in particular by analyzing the impact of group housing.
- Optimize replacement, productivity and longevity strategies to optimize herd inventory management.
- Adapt livestock systems, in particular by optimizing buildings, air quality and rearing conditions, in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle.
- Enhance the hoof and leg health and improve mobility, including through early detection, genetics, exploration of solutions and an improved understanding of factors contributing to locomotion changes.
Optimize herd health
- Optimize herd health by developing appropriate practices for disease prevention and early detection, improved herd health management protocols and enhanced antimicrobial stewardship practices.
- Optimize feeding practices and feed efficiency.
- Improve herd genetics and reproductive performance.
Targeted Outcomes and Research Priorities
Characterize the role of the dairy matrix in cardiometabolic disease prevention and management
- Clarify the effects of whole dairy products, including regular-fat dairy, on cardiometabolic outcomes (i.e., hard endpoints of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity).
- Evaluate the impact of whole dairy products, including regular-fat dairy, on metabolic health and intermediate metabolic outcomes (including classic and non-classic biomarkers), e.g., inflammatory markers, blood sugar, blood lipids and blood pressure, as well as on satiety hormones and appetite regulation.
- Assess the role of dairy products in cardiometabolic and musculoskeletal health, as well as in body recomposition, in the context of energy deficit and weight loss, including GLP‑1 analogue therapies.
- Evaluate the health and nutritional effects of nutrient-dense dairy products in the context of food classification systems based on degree of processing.
- Understand how unique dairy components (e.g., lipids, protein, lactose) as part of the whole food dairy matrix influence the health effects of dairy products.
Examine the role of dairy in healthy aging
- Evaluate the effects of dairy products on the preservation of muscle health (mass, strength, quality) and function, and the prevention of sarcopenia.
- Evaluate the effects of dairy products on brain health and cognitive maintenance.
- Examine the role of dairy products in optimal bone development and maintenance as well as musculoskeletal health, particularly in younger populations such as teenagers and young adults.
- Assess the effects of dairy products on bone health outcomes and osteoporosis prevention in middle-aged and older adults.
Describe the role of dairy in gut and immune health
- Confirm the role of dairy products in colorectal cancer prevention.
- Understand the relationships between dairy products, gut microbiota and systemic functional changes related to the gut-brain, gut-bone, and gut-immune axes.
- Examine the relationship between dairy consumption and systemic inflammation.
- Explore the relationship between dairy consumption and immune function.
Clarify the role of dairy in healthy, sustainable diets
- Define the contribution of dairy products to food-based dietary guidelines
- Examine the role of dairy products in nutrient adequacy (e.g., protein quality, vitamins, minerals) for various age groups
- Clarify optimal protein requirements for health and the role of dairy products in supporting optimal protein intakes according to life stages
- Ascertain the bioavailability of key micronutrients in dairy products
- Determine the economic health outcomes associated with adequate dairy intake (e.g., cardiometabolic diseases, osteoporosis, colorectal cancer)
What are the knowledge transfer (KT) priorities?
The KT priorities will be determined annually according to evolving needs and knowledge, and in line with priority research themes. They will aim to help target audiences adopt innovative dairy production practices based on credible research results and better understand and leverage the role of dairy products in human nutrition and health.
Cross-cutting considerations structure the KT process to increase the impact on target audiences.
What principles guide how the Strategy is implemented?
Four guiding principles, in line with DFC’s values of integrity, equity, collaboration, adaptability and transparency, inform the implementation of the Strategy:
- Collaboration and partnerships
- Scientific integrity
- Social responsibility
- Flexibility
Collaboration and Partnerships
DFC funds independent, credible research that is subject to a rigorous scientific peer-review process by external experts. DFC does not have a decision-making role in the conduct of the studies, data collection, and analysis or interpretation of the data. Researchers are independent in conducting their studies and report the outcomes regardless of the results. The decision to publish the results rests entirely with the researchers.
Scientific Integrity
DFC funds independent, credible research that is subject to a rigorous scientific peer-review process by external experts.
DFC does not have a decision-making role in the conduct of the studies, data collection, and analysis or interpretation of the data. Researchers conduct their studies independently, own their data, and report the outcomes regardless of the results. The decision whether to publish the results rests entirely with the researchers.
Social Responsibility
DFC’s investments in research provide the scientific evidence needed to continuously improve the stewardship of animals and the responsible management of resources, and to reduce the dairy sector’s impact on the environment. This supports the sustainable production of high-quality, safe, and nutritious food for consumers, while fostering the well-being of current and future generations of Canadians.
Flexibility
DFC recognizes that the dairy sector needs, scientific knowledge and realities facing farmers are constantly evolving. The organization, therefore, favours a flexible approach to implementing the Strategy to enable the adjustment of priorities and investments in response to emerging issues, new knowledge, and opportunities, thereby maximizing the relevance, impact, and value of research and KT activities.
Note: The strategy may need to be adapted as sector priorities evolve. Future emerging issues affecting the sector may also require the funding of projects to address objectives not identified in this research strategy document.