About the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence

The U.S. Pork Center of Excellence, housed at the National Swine Research and Information Center on the campus of Iowa State University, had its official beginning with the first meeting of its 15-member Board of Directors on September 1, 2005. At the meeting, the Board established a Statement of Purpose, a Vision Statement and a Mission Statement.

Meet the USPCE Staff | Board Members

Statement of Purpose

The U.S. Pork Center of Excellence will meet its research, teaching and extension goals through leadership in

1. creating efficiencies through coordination
2. identifying, attracting, and directing funds to high priorities, accomplishing more effective problem-solving
3. communicating solutions to target audiences throughout the U.S. pork industry.

Vision Statement

The vision of the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence is to advance:

1. U.S. pork production as the world-class standard
2. A new paradigm for how research is conducted and information delivered
3. Society’s understanding and valuing of U.S. pork producers’ contributions to the economy, environment, community, and to consumer health and well-being
4. A thriving U.S. pork production industry

Mission Statement

The mission of the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence is to add value to the pork industry by facilitating research and learning for U.S. pork producers through national collaboration.

The programs of the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence are three-fold:

1. A Research Center of Excellence will revolve around coordination of research on focused issues
2. A Teaching Center of Excellence will support Regional Swine Schools that will provide intensive swine production education
3. An Extension Center of Excellence will focus on the Pork Information Gateway, a virtual center of information development, warehousing and delivery involving the entire pork extension network nationwide.

This new organization is initially supported by grants from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council, through financial support of several state organizations including Mississippi Pork Producers Association, Missouri Pork Producers Association, Tennessee Pork Producers Association, and Utah Pork Producers Association, and through financial support from several Land-Grant Universities including Iowa State University, North Carolina State University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Illinois, Purdue University, the University of Missouri, the University of Nebraska, The Ohio State University, Kansas State University, South Dakota State University, the University of Wisconsin, Texas A & M University, Michigan State University, Penn State University, the University of Tennessee, North Dakota State University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.