Sponsor

Egg Farmers of Ontario

Program

In support of its Strategic Plan, EFO has established the following research priority areas:

  1. Bird nutrition, health and welfare;
  2. Food safety, human nutrition and health;
  3. End of flock management for extended lay;
  4. Environment and sustainability;
  5. Innovative egg-based solutions;
  6. Precision agriculture and technology advancement; and
  7. Public policy.

Additional details regarding EFO’s research priorities are included in Appendix 1. Alignment with these priorities will guide EFO’s funding decisions.

For More Information

For more information, please review the Call for Research Proposals document (see attachment section), and visit the LRIC Grants Management System for the application documents. 

Description

Egg Farmers of Ontario (EFO) is the marketing board for eggs and pullets in Ontario under authority delegated to it by the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission. EFO represents the province’s 525 egg and pullet farming families who ensure the production of high-quality eggs for the table and processing markets. Ontario’s egg industry represents farm cash receipts of over $500 million annually and support approximately 7,000 jobs in the province.

Each year, EFO invests in research that supports improvements in the egg industry and drives innovation in egg production and pullet rearing.

Maximum Project Value

EFO may provide up to $20,000 in funding per year, per project, over a maximum of five years.

Indirect Costs

40%

Deadlines

If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.

TypeDateNotes
Internal Deadline

Please submit a copy of your proposal, along with a signed OR-5 form to research.services@uoguelph.ca.

External Deadline

A full proposal must be submitted no later than July 6, 2026 via the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) research management system.

How to Apply

Every section of the application must be completed and include detailed information about the project. Please note the following:

Budget information

  • Applicants must download the budget template included in the application and complete all sections from the LRIC application portal.
  • The proposal must include a total project budget, clearly itemizing all costs, including salaries (identifying personnel), equipment, supplies, animals, laboratory testing and rental fees. Other expenditures above $500 per item must be itemized. For projects extending beyond one year, applicants must provide detailed budget information for each year of the project. Any overhead fees to be paid by EFO must be included.
  • Funds requested or obtained from sources other than EFO must be disclosed in the research proposal, including the status of each of the applications.
  • Capital expenditures are not eligible for funding by EFO.

Proposal Review Breakdown

Proposals will undergo a technical review and evaluation by EFO’s Research and Innovation Committee based on the following:

CRITERIA WEIGHT (POINTS)

1. Scientific merit:

  • The proposed methodology is appropriate to achieve the intended outcomes.
  • The research question is clearly defined and justified.
  • The proposed approach outlines a logical and feasible path to achieving the study objectives.
  • The sample size (animals/tests) is sufficient to address the research question(s).
  • The selection of animal type and age, along with the chosen tests and outcome measures, are appropriate to support the study objectives.

 

10

2. Value to Ontario’s egg industry:

  • Sufficient information is provided to support the project’s value to the industry.
  • The project is aligned with EFO’s research priorities.
  • The expected outcomes have practical benefit to Ontario’s egg and pullet farmers.

 

10

3. Economic impact:

  • Calculations of economic benefit were provided with a description of how they were obtained.
  • The project:
    • demonstrates a clear and meaningful economic benefit to the egg industry;
    • supports or enhances industry productivity and competitiveness;
    • proposes solutions that are practical to implement under commercial conditions; and
    • reflects cost-effectiveness and affordability relative to expected outcomes.
  • Non-economic benefits are described and supported with references.

 

10

4. Budget:

  • Project costs are reasonable and sufficiently justified. The budget includes adequate detail to clearly explain how costs were determined.
  • Costs for animals and/or tests are aligned with known or standard rates.
  • Travel and conference expenses are appropriate in scope, timing and value.
  • Salaries and stipends are appropriately allocated (e.g., students, technicians, producers, consultants).
  • Budget details are consistent with the proposed methodology (e.g., number of animals, number of tests).

 

10

5. Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT)

  • A detailed plan for KTT activities is included in the application.
  • The KTT activities described are impactful and meaningful.
  • Potential collaboration with EFO to disseminate information is included, as applicable.

 

10

6. Industry support and collaboration:

  • The researcher has engaged non-academic industry stakeholders (e.g., feed companies, animal health companies, other suppliers, etc.) through input, guidance, collaboration or formal support (such as letters of support).

 

5

7. New or novel research:

  • Aspects of the project are new or novel.

 

5

8. Additional funding:

  • Funding from other sources has been obtained or applications have been/will be submitted.

 

5

As part of the proposal evaluation process, principal investigators may be required to provide a short presentation to EFO’s Research and Innovation Committee or asked to provide additional information or clarification within a specified timeline

 

 

Attachment(s)

AttachmentSize
PDF icon EFO_Call_for_Research_Proposals_2026.pdf297.01 KB
For Questions, please contact

Any inquiries for further information should be directed to 

For assistance with registration to the system, please contact LRIC’s Director of Operations Jean Howden, at jhowden@livestockresearch.ca.

Office of Research

Kersty Kearney, Awards and Agreements Officer
Research Services Office
kearneyk@uoguelph.ca

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