| | 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:
- Congratulations to Community Agricultural Leader and U of G Staff Member Kim Jo Bliss
- Alliance-funded U of G Invention Kills Food Pathogens in Seconds – Without Water or Pesticides
- Research Impact: Innovative Approaches to Prevent Boar Taint
- Cultivating Ideas: Highlights From the Rural Symposium
- 2025 KTT Symposium: Online Tickets Available
- KTT Funding Program: Call for Proposals
- Upcoming Events
- Alliance people, places and programs in the media
| | Congratulations to Community Agricultural Leader and U of G Staff Member Kim Jo Bliss | | |
On April 23, Bliss received the King Charles III Coronation Medal, which recognizes people who have made a significant contribution to their community.
Bliss is a passionate beef and sheep farmer who carries agricultural expertise and leadership into her role at the Ontario Crops Research Centre in Emo. As lead technician, she drives innovation and delivers results for local producers. Numerous community organizations have benefited from her commitment to volunteering and mentorship, including the 4-H program and Beef Farmers of Ontario.
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Minister Greg Rickford, Kenora-Rainy River MPP, presented the medal, calling Bliss “a pillar of our agri-community", noting she “leads with purpose – always focused on supporting local producers, strengthening food security, and building a stronger, more resilient agricultural future for Northwestern Ontario.”
Photo credits: Tom Thomson for Minister Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora-Rainy River
| | Rickford presented Bliss with the award at her farm on April 23. | | Alliance-funded U of G Invention Kills Food Pathogens in Seconds – Without Water or Pesticides | | Dr. Keith Warriner's gas-phase hydroxyl radical technology is available commercially through Clean Works Technology, an Ontario company based in St. Catharines. | | |
Dr. Keith Warriner is protecting the food supply with a sustainable technology that kills 99.99 per cent of food pathogens, such as E. coli, Salmonella, and norovirus, in less than 30 seconds. The Alliance has supported the development and commercialization of this gas-phase hydroxyl radical technology for over a decade.
Now, more than 200 studies validate the tech’s safety and efficacy. With a team of students, the food science researcher finds ways to use it on new commodities, like eggs, frozen foods, leafy greens and even medical equipment.
| | Research Impact: Innovative Approaches to Prevent Boar Taint | | Male pigs pose a dilemma for the swine industry. Uncastrated males, called boars, are very efficient at turning feed into meat, but they also bring the risk of boar taint that renders their meat inedible. | | Dr. Jim Squires and his research team are developing precision approaches to predict and control boar taint, a significant issue in the swine industry. | | |
This Alliance-supported research is expected to offer Ontario producers new ways to prevent boar taint without castration, leading to double-digit gains in growth and feed conversion.
By measuring boar taint levels at the Arkell Swine Research Facility and the new Ontario Swine Research Centre in Elora, Ont., his team discovered that the problem does not occur in every male pig. The team has focused on predicting the occurrence of boar taint and finding control options that benefit producers, such as a quick COVID-style test for boar taint during processing.
| | | Cultivating Ideas: Highlights From the Rural Symposium | | |
The School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph and the Government of Ontario co-hosted the 11th annual Rural Research Symposium on March 26, bringing together students, faculty, community practitioners, government, and non-governmental organizations to share research on emerging rural themes. The event featured a series of insightful presentations, posters, and networking opportunities, with the goal of fostering collaboration and innovation in rural research.
Presenters highlighted several critical themes, including sustainability, agriculture, rural peoples, infrastructure development, education, technology, economic development and Indigenous peoples. These topics sparked engaging conversations among attendees, emphasizing the importance of addressing these challenges to improve the quality of life in rural areas.
Researchers shared updates and results on many Alliance-funded initiatives, including Special Initiatives project Braiding Food Systems: Co-Constructing Indigenous Seed Systems in Northern Ontario for Food Sovereignty, Security and Climate Adaptation and Enabling Responsible AI-Driven Agri-Food Innovation in Ontario: Challenges and Opportunities.
All posters and presentations presented at the event can be accessed online through the Rural Repository.
The University of Guelph is proud to have participated in such a meaningful exchange of knowledge and looks forward to continuing its support for rural research initiatives. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the success of this symposium.
| | 2025 KTT Symposium: Online Tickets Available | | ONLINE TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE | | |
The annual Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT) Symposium, led by the University of Guelph and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness is back with a focus on being a trusted voice in the agri-food community.
Every year, this symposium brings together participants from government, academia, industry and regional communities to support networking and capacity development in the agri-food KTT community, and to learn more about ongoing KTT projects funded by the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.
Join us on Monday, May 12, 2025, at the University of Guelph Arboretum or online to:
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Learn how to earn the confidence of industry and end-users through communication and KTT skills.
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Build practical skills with tips and tools on how to create an infographic-style poster.
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Hear from Alliance-funded researchers about effective and innovative KTT for the future.
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Network with colleagues from across government, academia and industry who are working to enhance outcomes in the agri-food sector through innovative KTT strategies.
| | KTT Funding Program: Call for Proposals | | |
The Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT) Funding Program is designed to enable and enhance the positive impact of research.
The Alliance invites project proposals in the following funding streams:
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KTT Research Funding supports projects that advance the science of knowledge translation and transfer in Ontario’s agri-food and rural sectors.
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KTT Mobilization Funding supports the delivery of activities, products or services that drive knowledge into action and get research into practice for the benefit of Ontario and Ontarians.
All projects, regardless of stream, must relate to an established OMAFA research priority and support Ontario’s agri-food and/or rural sectors.
Projects will be adjudicated through a one-step review process. Full proposals are due by 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
Visit the KTT Funding Program webpage for further information about this call and OMAFA research priorities.
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Virtual Tour of the Ontario Swine Research Centre
May 15, 2025, 10 - 11 a.m.
Join a virtual tour of the Ontario Swine Research Centre and see inside a world-class facility conducting swine research for Ontario producers.
Event registration
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2025 Webinar Series: Advancing Predictive Models and Decision Support Sytems for AIV Control
May 15, 29 and June 11, 18
Join leading experts and explore the latest advances in predictive modeling, and data-driven approaches to support avian influenza virus outbreak preparedness.
Event registration
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Canadian Agri-food & Rural Advisory, Extension, and Education (CAREE) Conference
October 29-31, 2025, Guelph, Ontario
Save the date. Registration details coming in June.
Event registration
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A selection of Alliance people, places and programs cited in popular and trade media.
Study Validates, Verifies Hydroxyl Radical Treatments for Inactivating Salmonella, Avian Pathogens on Poultry Eggs (Apr. 28, Food Safety Magazine)
A new study published in Poultry Science has validated and verified a gas-phase hydroxyl radical process for inactivating Salmonella on hatchery eggs, addressing a significant source of Salmonella contamination throughout the supply chain. The project was authored by researchers from the University of Guelph and the University of Nottingham and leveraged eggs from the Ontario Poultry Research Centre.
Student Recruitment Begins for New Veterinary Program at Lakehead University Campus (Apr. 23, CBC)
The university, in partnership with the University of Guelph, is starting recruitment for the new collaborative doctor of veterinary medicine program.
Helping Plants See the Light Will Fuel Pasture Growth (Apr. 10, Ontario Farmer)
U of G researcher Dr. Eric Lyons discusses pasture management at the Profitable Pastures webinar.
Changes to the Externship Course Enhancing Opportunities for Students and the Veterinary Community (Apr. 8, OVC)
OVC announces key updates to the externship course and the benefits to the veterinary industry.
Jay Subramanian Recipient of 2024 Niagara Peninsula Fruit & Vegetable Growers' Association Award of Merit (April, U of G Plant Agriculture)
Congratulations to U of G researcher Dr. Jay Subramaniam, who is described as a passionate person who is admired by the tree fruit industry.
AI is for the Birds: How Machine Learning Can Help Predict and Manage Avian Flu Outbreaks (Mar. 30, The Conversation)
U of G researcher Dr. Rozita Dara discusses how artificial intelligence solutions can help track and predict avian influenza outbreaks.
Bird Flu Outbreaks: 4 Things to Watch as Birds Migrate Back North (Mar. 28, CBC News: The National)
Dr. Shayan Sharif speaks to The National about how avian influenza mutates and could spark a pandemic. Joanna Sawicki, technical supervisor at the Animal Health Laboratory, spoke to the show about the lab's daily testing for the H5N1 virus.
| | Make an Alliance Connection | | 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. | | | | |
