The Alliance hosted four virtual sessions during the fall/winter of 2020/21 that demonstrated how Ontario's agricultural research centres provide a platform for innovative research and collaboration that benefits Ontario’s agri-food sector.

Owned by the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario and managed by the University of Guelph through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, these research centres facilitate innovation and learning for all major Ontario agriculture sectors. Participants heard from researchers and industry partners about how the research centres facilitate the robust research necessary to maintain a sustainable and competitive agri-food sector throughout Ontario and Canada.

Recordings or presentations are now available for all four webinars:

• Ontario Aquaculture Research Centre
• Ontario Beef Research Centre – Elora
• Ontario Crops Research Centre – Elora
• Ontario Crops Research Centre – Simcoe

Ontario Aquaculture Research Centre

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), in collaboration with the University of Guelph and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, established Ontario Aquaculture Research Centre [1] in Alma, Ont. to facilitate research and commercialization of the fish farming industry in Ontario.

On March 30, 2021, participants heard from Dr. David Huyben, professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences, and R.J. Taylor, co-owner of Cedar Crest Trout Farms.

Watch the presentations [2]:

[3]

Ontario Beef Research Centre – Elora

On Feb. 2, 2021, participants heard about the recently opened Ontario Beef Research Centre - Elora [4] from Dr. Katie Wood, professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences, and Matt Bowman, Research Committee Chair or Beef Farmers of Ontario.

This research centre facilitates the latest and most innovative beef-related research during all stages of production. 

Watch the presentations [5]:

[5]

Ontario Crops Research Centre – Elora

This Ontario Crops Research Centre – Elora [6] site facilitates research on a variety of crops including corn, soybeans, cereals, forages and canola. On Dec. 1, 2020, participants heard from:

• Dr. Claudia Wagner-Riddle, professor in the School of Environmental Sciences
• Angie Straathof, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA)

Watch the presentations [7]:

[8]

Ontario Crops Research Centre – Simcoe

Research at the Ontario Crops Research Centre – Simcoe [9] focuses on horticulture, from vegetables and fruits to alternative crops like hazelnut. On October 6, 2020, participants heard from Dr. Praveen Saxena, professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture, and Barbara Yates, Agronomist with Ferrero Canada. 

See the slides from their presentations: Micropropagation and conservation of hazelnut [10] (PDF).