Poultry Cooperative Research Centre (Poultry CRC)

The Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Program is a substantial granting program launched by the Australian Government in 1990.  It provides partial funding for major collaborative research ventures bringing  together research groups of particular relevance to a specific area of research for a collaborative effort, initially for a seven year period. 

An important research organisation for the chicken meat industry, bringing together a number of public and private sector entities, is the Poultry CRC, headquartered at the University of New England. A detailed account of the players involved and the research projects underway is available on the CRC’s website.

A substantial part of the research of specific relevance to the  chicken meat industry particulary in areas where companies are not competing against each other, such as animal health and welfare, is now coordinated and managed through the  Australian Poultry CRC.

The Australian Poultry Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) is a joint venture between Australia’s leading poultry research, education and industry organisations and was established in July 2003. The Poultry CRC has an extensive collaborative network comprising researchers, educators and support staff from 22 participating organisations across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. The CRC is headquartered at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW.

The CRC's Mission

To enhance the competitiveness of the Australian egg and chicken meat industries and supporting industries through the application of strategic programs delivering cost-effective and socially responsible production of safe, quality poultry products for domestic consumption and for emerging export markets.

The CRC's Objectives

• Sustainable production of chicken meat without reliance on antibiotics;
• Development and timely commercialisation of new health products and improved diagnostic tools through the application of genomics-based biotechnologies;
• A poultry industry with enhanced bird health and welfare standards, producing quality products in an efficient, sustainable production system, and
• Improved education and skills of staff at all levels of the industry.