Dairy Research Clusters

Funding programs for national multidisciplinary research projects in dairy production and human nutrition and health.

Dairy Research Cluster 4

Since 2010, DFC has been a partner of the Canadian Agri-Science Clusters Initiative of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) as part of the strategic framework Growing Forward 1 (2010-2013), Growing Forward 2 (2013-2018), and Canadian Agricultural Partnership (2018-2023). The Clusters program allows to address national dairy research priorities in a coordinated and strategic approach in partnership with sector partners and government.

The fourth Dairy Research Cluster builds on the success of the previous dairy research clusters to provide solutions to improve the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the Canadian dairy sector. Joint industry and government commitments to Dairy Research Cluster 4 total $13 million, including $7.5 million from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership AgriScience Program, $3.24 million from Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC), $1 million from DairyGen partners (DFC, Semex Alliance, Holstein Canada and Lactanet), $795,000 from Novalait and in-kind contributions from dairy sector partners.

Find more information about Dairy Research Cluster 4 and access each project's web page  by clicking on the title of each project in this document:

Dairy Research Cluster 4 map:

Dairy Research Cluster 3

The Dairy Research Cluster 3 (2018-2023) ended in March 2023 and was a joint government and industry initiative aimed at investing in scientific research to stimulate farm productivity, sustainability, and profitability as well as improve knowledge on milk and dairy product health benefits. Dairy Farmers of Canada led this initiative on behalf of the Dairy Research Cluster 3 partners: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lactanet and Novalait.

Dairy Research Cluster 3 by the Numbers:

  • 15 research projects supported
  • 29 research institutions involved
  • 124 researchers supported
  • 123 HQP trained (M.Sc., Ph.D and Postdocs)
  • 72 new technologies developed (practices and processes)
  • 1 intellectual property generated
  • $15,9 M invested 
  • 1,500 dairy farms collaborating on projects
 
Visit the webpage Research Projects for research results and communication resources developed for each project under the Dairy Research Cluster 3.
Research Projects Results and Resources