The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing $2.2 million to modernize the provincial Animal Health Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced today.

"Manitoba's agricultural producers are committed to the health and well-being of their animals. Investing in this innovative data analysis tool will help the sector quickly contain the spread of disease. It will help farmers protect the health of their animals and ensure a consistent, high-quality supply of Canadian food. Our Government will continue to support initiatives that strengthen public confidence in Canadian agriculture."

- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"This information technology modernization project will strengthen Animal Health's ability to provide valuable and timely diagnostic and surveillance data to stakeholders and clients, which will help to improve decision making and to mitigate financial losses associated with animal disease outbreaks in the agriculture sector. It will also assist veterinarians, producers and the government of Manitoba to prevent the spread of disease and protect the health of humans, animals and the safety of the food supply."

- Derek Johnson, Manitoba Minister of Agriculture

"Veterinary Diagnostic Services, and the people who work there, are critical components of disease preparedness and management in Manitoba. Enhancing the diagnostic and surveillance data management capacity of the laboratory is welcomed by Manitoba pork producers, particularly given that effective disease response is measured in hours and not days. This is a significant investment that will pay dividends for many years to come."

- Rick Préjet, chair, Manitoba Pork Council

• LIMS is computer-based information technology infrastructure that manages all laboratory animal disease diagnostic information and results generated by Veterinary Diagnostic Services (VDS), Manitoba's animal heath laboratory whose existing diagnostic testing technology is at the end of its life cycle.

• Testing by VDS supports industry-wide herd and flock disease diagnostics and surveillance programs for new and emerging diseases. Each year on average, VDS receives 17,000 submissions from veterinarians and the agriculture sector in Manitoba and reports more than 135,000 test results to clients and animal health surveillance networks across Canada.

• A vendor will be selected through a public tendering process, the ministers noted. Up to $2.2 million has been set aside for the purchase, installation and commissioning of software and equipment.

• This initiative is supported by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3-billion commitment by Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports Canada's agri-food and agri-products sectors. This includes a $2-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

Associated links

• Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Government of Manitoba)

Marianne Dandurand
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food 
Marianne.Dandurand@canada.ca 
343-541-9229

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Ross Romaniuk
Press Secretary
Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development
Government of Manitoba
Ross.Romaniuk@leg.gov.mb.ca