With modern training resources and next-generation data tools, the Canadian Pork Council is empowering producers to strengthen operations and plan confidently for the future.
For more than a decade, Canada’s pork producers have relied on the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) to help drive innovation, strengthen on-farm resilience and build confidence among consumers and trading partners. Today, the sector’s progress is grounded in a continuum of initiatives — from world-leading traceability to new training resources and forward-looking sustainability tools — that together support a more efficient, profitable and future-ready industry.
Digital Traceability Empowering Trust and Market Access
Canada’s livestock sector is recognized globally for its commitment to strong animal-health safeguards, and CPC’s PigTRACE program remains central to that leadership. Developed 15 years ago, becoming mandatory under federal regulation in 2014, and now a benchmark in the international marketplace, PigTRACE is a national traceability system designed to protect animal health, support biosecurity and maintain the trust of consumers and trading partners.
PigTRACE showcases how digital innovation is safeguarding animal health, enabling faster response, and strengthening confidence among consumers and trading partners.
Jeff Clark, Director of PigTRACE Canada
The system tracks the movement of pigs across the country in near real time, helping producers and regulators respond quickly and accurately in the event of a disease outbreak. By providing a standardized digital record of animal movement, PigTRACE plays a crucial role in maintaining market access — ensuring Canadian pork continues to reach global customers that require rigorous traceability. What began as an innovative response to emerging health and trade challenges has become a foundational tool that continues to evolve alongside the sector.
Innovating Skills Development for a Modern Workforce
As the industry grows, so does the need for a trained workforce equipped to meet today’s expectations around animal care, workplace safety and on-farm consistency. To support producers, CPC recently launched PigLEARN — a digital education platform designed to help workers build essential skills and reinforce best practices.
PigLEARN offers accessible, up-to-date modules developed with subject-matter experts from across Canada’s pork sector. Its goal is to equip staff at every experience level with practical, evidence-based guidance, from biosecurity and safe animal handling to daily care routines. By centralizing these resources, PigLEARN helps producers strengthen training, reduce risk and cultivate a knowledgeable and confident workforce. With new modules added over time, the platform will continue to grow with the industry and its evolving needs.
PigLEARN modernizes on-farm training by blending digital learning with best practices, building confidence, strengthening skills, and supporting world-class animal care in five languages across a diverse workforce.
Mark Fynn, Training Resources Coordinator
From Sustainability Metrics to Market Advantage
Looking ahead, CPC is developing the sector’s next major innovation: a comprehensive sustainability index designed to help producers measure and improve their environmental performance. The digital tool will translate farm-level data into clear, actionable metrics, giving producers deeper insight into efficiency, environmental stewardship and long-term economic viability.
By providing credible, transparent indicators, the sustainability index aims to support responsible production, reinforce consumer trust and prepare the industry for future regulatory and market expectations. Once launched, it will serve as an important resource for producers committed to continuous improvement and long-term resilience. With each new initiative, CPC is helping producers meet today’s demands while laying the groundwork for a future-ready pork sector.
The Sustainability Index turns data into a competitive advantage, delivering credible insights that strengthen market access, build trust, and future-proof Canadian pork economically, environmentally, and socially.
Katerina Kolemishevska, Associate Executive Director
To explore these tools or connect with your local producer organization, visit cpc-ccp.com and discover how innovation can move your farm forward.
