December 2024

Growing Ontario agri-food together: A collaboration between the Government of Ontario 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:

• Happy holidays
• U of G names new leadership in the Office of Research
• PhD student puts agri-food research in focus with contest win
• Alliance funding supports dairy and poultry sectors
• Celebrating World Soil Day
• Upcoming events
• Alliance people, places and programs in the media

From the team at the

U of G Office of Research - Agri-Food Partnership.

The University of Guelph will be closed from Monday, December 23, 2024, to Wednesday, January 2, 2025, and will re-open on Thursday, January 3, 2025.

Dr. Rebecca Hallett has been appointed interim associate vice-president (research, agri-food partnership) and will take over the portfolio to lead the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the Government of Ontario and the University of Guelph, and provide strategic management and support to the largest single research agreement at the University.

Hallett will also oversee the University’s Laboratory Services Division and maintain key relationships with numerous public and private sector partners.

Dr. Shayan Sharif, who had been serving in the role of interim associate vice-president (research, agri-food partnership) at U of G, has been appointed interim vice-president, research & innovation. 

This news follows that of Dr. Charlotte Yates’ retirement announced earlier in November. During the transition period while the University conducts a formal search for its next president, Dr. Rene Van Acker will assume the role of interim president and vice-chancellor at U of G. 

Sharif, Hallett and Van Acker will remain in their new roles until the presidential search is complete.

Madeleine McAuley’s “Perch Party” photo has won the Agri-Food in Focus prize supported by the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance in the 2024 University of Guelph Research in Focus photo contest.

McAuley, an Animal Biosciences PhD student in U of G’s Ontario Agricultural College, snapped the photo while assisting lab-mate and MSc student Steeley Ellis to collect data for her experiment about the development of perching behaviour. 

The photo shows three-week-old pullets (young hens) that are part of the trial at the Ontario Poultry Research Centre; an active research facility owned by Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario and managed by U of G through the Alliance. This behaviour and welfare research, led by faculty researcher Dr. Tina Widowski, aims to determine best practices for perch provision for growing pullets and laying hens to inform updates and revisions to the Code of Practice.

Episode 1: Minimize Disturbance

Episode 2: Year Round Roots

Episode 3: Build Organic Matter

Episode 4: Keep it Covered

Episode 5: Diversify Your Rotations

This video series was created with support from the Alliance's KTT Mobilization funding program.

Are you a U of G researcher looking to create engaging content to disseminate research findings? Explore the Alliance's KTT funding programs for support options.

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

Better, faster, stronger soil data can feed the planet (Dec. 3, U of G News) 

For World Soil Day, Alliance-funded researcher Dr. Asim Biswas says data is the answer and his research into affordable technology can transform the way we feed the world.

Ontario soybean yields proof of crop resilience (Nov. 29, Farmtario)

Some of the plot results from the Ontario Crops Research Centre in Winchester yielded over 100 bushels an acre.

Reducing your farm's cybersecurity risks (Nov. 19, Farms.com)

With funding from the Alliance, Dr. Ali Dehghantanha, Canada Research Chair and professor in cyber security at University of Guelph, has developed a security monitoring system available to farms and farm businesses.

Build bigger value for cull dairy cows (Nov. 18, Farmtario)

Alliance-funded research shows feeding dairy cows going to the meat market can make sense financially and for animal welfare.

Poultry research in Canada – heavy hitters launch new projects (Nov. 15, Poultry World)

Several Alliance-funded researchers are launching new projects supported by federal government funding delivered through the Canadian Poultry Research Council.

U of G receives funding for three new Canada Research Chairs (Nov. 14, U of G News)

Dr. Asim Biswas, an Alliance-funded researcher who aims to develop smart farming solutions, will hold a new Tier 1 Chair in Digital Agriculture.

Insights from Kim Schneider (UGuelph) on grazing cover crops (Nov. 5, Farms.com)

Dr. Kim Schneider shares cover crop grazing results with producers at Atlantic Forage Field Day 2024. Watch the full presentation on Farms.com.

Canada needs an innovative One Health strategy to prepare for the next pandemic (November, Canadian Science Policy Centre)

U of G's acting vice-president (research and innovation) Dr. Shayan Sharif writes that in order to get ahead of emerging zoonotic threats like avian influenza, Canada needs to embrace a One Health approach that breaks down the silos separating human, animal and environmental health.

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 OMAFA. Questions regarding the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance can be addressed to omafrago@uoguelph.ca.