The Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance has appointed three new research program directors (RPDs), who join two University of Guelph faculty experts already in the role.

These experts connect multidisciplinary U of G agri-food expertise with Alliance research programming to deliver solutions for Ontario’s farmers and drive economic growth within the agri-food sector.

“Research program directors are thought leaders who play a critical role in ensuring the solutions developed through the Alliance Program for Research and Innovation address sector challenges,” says Dr. Shayan Sharif, interim vice-president, Research and Innovation. “We are proud to continue to work with the province to help Ontario agribusinesses thrive among the best in the world.”

Dr. Kari Dunfield will lead the Plants research area, Dr. Iris Joye will oversee Innovative Products, and Dr. Wanhong Yang will specialize in Soil, Water and the Environment. They will join Dr. Trevor DeVries, who returns to lead the Animals research area, and Dr. Kate Parizeau, who remains at the helm of Policy and Economy.

These five U of G research leaders bring a wealth of passion, expertise and deep connection with the Ontario agri-food sector to their roles. Their leadership is crucial to meet emerging research opportunities and deliver innovative solutions to the challenges faced by Ontario’s agri-food sector.

“I have witnessed the important contributions the Alliance makes to the agri-food sector in Ontario, nationally and globally,” says Yang. “It inspired me to take a leadership role to further support research development and partnerships.”

By forging and nurturing relationships within the agri-food and rural sectors locally and globally, RPDs are instrumental in addressing the priorities set by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA). Their work not only advances scientific knowledge but also translates it into tangible benefits for businesses, driving economic growth and sustainability in the agri-food industry.

Meet the new Alliance RPDs:

Dr. Kari Dunfield [1]

Professor in the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) School of Environmental Sciences

RPD for: Plants

Areas of expertise: Soil and agro-ecosystems. Dunfield is co-founder of Soils at Guelph, a multidisciplinary team of researchers and communicators working to get soil knowledge into the hands of growers and other industry stakeholders. Learn more: Soils at Guelph [2].

 

“I bring an interdisciplinary lens related to plant growth, pathogens and soil. A lot of my research is in plant-microbe interactions.

“The University is unique in that we already have relationships with OMAFA, industry and production agriculture. Now is the time to highlight them, and this role will help with that.”

Dr. Iris Joye [3]

Professor in the OAC Department of Food Science

RPD for: Innovative Products

Area of expertise: Cereal science and technology: combining cereal science and chemistry to make better food products. Learn more: Cereal Lab Guelph [4].

“As a first-hand witness of the impact the Alliance makes, I am passionate to contribute to program and priority development.

 

“I am looking forward to connecting with U of G colleagues, OMAFA staff and other stakeholders in the agri-food sector to unlock new research opportunities, and develop new strategies for information dissemination, knowledge translation and outreach.”

Dr. Wanhong Yang [5]

Professor in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, Department of Geography, Environment & Geomatics

RPD for: Soil, Water and Environment

Area of expertise: Environmental and resource management and GIS applications. Currently conducting research on cost- effectiveness of agricultural conservation programs. Read more: Watershed Evaluation Group [6].

“In my capacity as RPD, I plan to further develop my provincial and federal connections to understand short-, medium, and long-term research needs and capacity and facilitate research development and partnership.”

Returning RPDs

Dr. Trevor DeVries [7]

Professor in the OAC Department of Animal Biosciences and Canada Research Chair in Dairy Cattle Behaviour and Welfare

RPD for: Animals

Area of expertise: Feeding behaviour and welfare of dairy cows.

 

“As an active member of the both the University and broader scientific communities, I hope to build and strengthen the relationships that are vital to the Alliance.

By bridging industry groups, OMAFA and U of G, we can make sure research fits with government priorities but is relevant for the livestock sector as well.”

Dr. Kate Parizeau [8]

Professor in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, Department of Geography, Environment & Geomatics

RPD for: Policy and Economy

Area of expertise: Waste management practices and what they can tell us about social organization and our relationship with the natural world. Read more: The Social Life of Waste [9].

“This role is an interdisciplinary one: we assess research in distinctive areas of expertise. It is essential to incorporate diverse viewpoints and foster collaborative decision-making in order to meaningfully value these different types of scholarship.

 

I hope that we can continue to inform more researchers about the many opportunities afforded by the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, and continue to support the amazing research taking place at the University of Guelph.”

The Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance provides funding to support research, training, innovation and outreach for the benefit of Ontario's agri-food sector. Research Program Directors play a critical role in realizing this goal.