April 2023

A collaboration between OMAFRA and the University of Guelph

Stories of the Alliance people, places and programs generating impact in the agri-food sector in Ontario and around the world. 

In this issue:

• Province invests more than $343M in Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance
• Register for the 2023 KTT Symposium
• Biofect Innovations wins Ontario Agri-Tech Pitch Competition
• KTT funding program extends submission date to May 2
• Upcoming events
• Alliance people, places and programs in the media

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson, left, and U of G president Dr. Charlotte Yates

The Ontario government is investing more than $343 million over five years to support agri-food research and innovation through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.

The Alliance leverages U of G expertise and brings together academia, government and industry to support Ontario’s $47-billion agri-food sector with cutting-edge research and innovation, training and laboratory services.

“The University of Guelph applauds the Government of Ontario for its continued support and strengthening of Ontario’s agri-food sector, bringing industry, government and university together to form a unique, world-class partnership,” said University president Dr. Charlotte Yates. “Using our expertise, the University leverages this government investment to protect plant and animal health, guard against new disease and environmental challenges, safeguard Ontario’s food supply and support leading agri-food innovation.”

Province to continue partnership with University of Guelph on agri-food alliance | Global News

5-year, $343M deal between province, U of Guelph for food research | The Record

Research alliance to get $343 million over five years | Farmtario

Province renews U of G agreement, commits $343 million over 5 years | GuelphToday

Agri-food research gets $343-million boost from province | Woolwich Observer

Join us April 25 to discuss how KTT can support the agri-food and rural sectors in Ontario and beyond.

• Hear from researchers who are delivering KTT approaches to engage communities across Ontario and Canada.
• Learn about international perspectives on farmer-engaged KTT strategies and how they can be applied in Ontario.
• Engage with industry partners to learn about different institutional approaches to KTT in the Ontario agri-food sector.
• Network with colleagues from across government, academia and industry who are working to connect producers with agri-food research.

Date: Tuesday, April 25, 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Hybrid event: 1 Stone Road, Guelph, and Zoom

Dr. Ralph Christian Delos Santos of Biofect Innovations and Kim Parker of Food Security Structures Canada hold their Agri-Tech Pitch Competition awards among their competitors from Ontario-based companies Psigryph, Terra Optima and VETSon.

Biofect Innovations, maker of a potential sugar substitute, is the $10,000 grand prize winner of the inaugural Agri-Tech Pitch Competition held through the University of Guelph.

Event attendees selected Food Security Structures Canada as the People’s Choice winner to receive $2,500.

Held March 24, the pitch event hosted by U of G’s Research Innovation Office and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is intended to raise awareness of agri-food issues and showcase promising Ontario companies.

Biofect Innovations, based in Toronto, created a proprietary fermentation process using microbes that turn industry by-products like starch into brazzein, a sweet-tasting protein 2,000 times sweeter than sugar.

Other pitch teams included Psigryph, Terra Optima and VETSon.

The Alliance's Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT) Funding Program aims to accelerate the impact of agri-food and rural research. Applications are open for two funding streams:

1. KTT Research projects that advance the science of KTT in the agri-food and rural sectors and contribute to the scholarly literature by developing or assessing KTT activities or approaches.
2. KTT Mobilization projects that disseminate and mobilize existing research.

For more information on the KTT Funding Program, including how to apply, click the button below.

Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education (AIAEE) Conference

April 26-29, University of Guelph

Hosted by the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) at the University of Guelph, the theme of Technology, Pluralism and Inclusiveness in Agriculture, Food, and Environment speaks to their goal of providing an engaging experience to learn about agriculture, food and environment from international and cross-cultural perspectives.

Agri-Food Research Data Workshop Series

Wednesdays, April to June, In-Person and Online

This series of nine data workshops will teach participants about data management plans, the new Ontario Dairy Research Centre Data Portal, strategies to document data and more. Click the link below for full details.

A selection of Alliance people, places and programs cited in popular and trade media.

Ontario Government makes historic investment allowing University of Guelph to expand veterinary training, addressing critical workforce shortages (Mar. 23, U of G News)

Investments will support a new collaborative program increasing number of veterinarian graduates in Ontario by 20 per cent per year and an incentive program to expand number of large animal veterinarians practicing in underserviced communities.

HQP and AFI scholars explore food security and circular economy in Guelph (Mar. 20, U of G, Food from Thought)

A group of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) and Arrell Food Institute scholars from various academic disciplines recently participated in a field trip on March 13 to learn about food security organizations and circular economy initiatives in the City of Guelph.

HQP scholars using OMICs technologies to study the immune response of parasite-infected sheep (Mar. 15, U of G, Food from Thought)

A group of Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) scholars, all graduate students in the Department of Animal Biosciences, are using cutting-edge OMICs technologies to investigate the immune response of sheep to gastrointestinal nematode infection and identify potential key regulator genes associated with immunity.

Can corn and cover crops work together? (Mar. 14, Farmtario)

Presented at the 2023 Ontario Agricultural Conference, long-term data from University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus have established the benefit of red clover underseeded to winter wheat.

Breeding climate-resilient cattle (Mar. 14, U of G, Dairy@Guelph)

Research at the Ontario Dairy Research Centre suggests cows with a naturally higher immune response also have a higher tolerance for increased temperatures, meaning that this research may allow dairy producers to breed cattle that better withstand heat stress.

New apple variety at U of G may juice up cider industry (Mar. 10, U of G, Office of Research)

The U of G researcher's work started in 2001 at the Simcoe site of the Ontario Crops Research Centre. The new apple variety, called Providence, holds promise for the cider industry.

Picture this: Technology developed to bolster climate change studies (Feb. 16, U of G, Food from Thought)

After being tested, cameras that cost about $900 less than those currently used will be installed on each of the 18 lysimeters at the Ontario Crops Research Centre in Elora.

Comments? Feedback? Events or content to include? Email kttadmin@uoguelph.ca.

This newsletter is produced by the University's Office of Research. The views expressed are the views of the University and do not necessarily reflect those of OMAFRA. Questions regarding the OMAFRA-University of Guelph Agreement can be addressed to omafrago@uoguelph.ca.