Welcoming new research program directors

Posted on Thursday, September 23rd, 2021

New research program directors, Dr. Alfons Weersink, Professor, Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, Dr. Trevor DeVries, Professor, Department of Animal Biosciences

We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Trevor DeVries and Dr. Alfons Weersink as new Research Program Directors (RPDs) for the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the University of Guelph.

Dr. DeVries will support the research areas relating to Competitive Production Systems (Animals) and Animal Health & Welfare, while Dr. Weersink will cover Agri-Food and Rural Policy, Trade & Markets, Productive Land Capacity, and Strong Rural Communities. With these two new appointments and the successful renewal of the RPDs for its other research areas, the Alliance has a full slate of Research Program Directors in place for the upcoming year. Their names and contact information can be found on the Alliance webpage University of Guelph Research Program Directors.

Dr. Trevor DeVries is a Professor in the Department of Animal Biosciences, as well as a Canada Research Chair in Dairy Cattle Behaviour and Welfare. Dr. DeVries is a prolific researcher in dairy cattle behaviour, nutrition and welfare, with a focus on feeding behaviour and diet selection, and how these are influenced by diet, management and housing systems. He is also known for his willingness to translate his research to those that can benefit from it. He has won numerous awards, including recently being announced as the recipient of the 2021 Nutrition Professionals Inc. Applied Dairy Nutrition Award by the American Dairy Science Association, recognizing his outstanding achievement in research, teaching and extension in the dairy industry.

Dr. Alfons Weersink is a Professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics. As an agricultural economist, much of Dr. Weersink’s work is summative and informs government, policy makers and producer organizations of the expected impacts of a particular proposed policy or practice. He also looks at the cost-effectiveness of farm level practices. Dr. Weersink’s expertise is widely recognized, as he was recently invited to Ottawa to testify to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food in the House of Commons. There he shared important research that will help to shape effective public policy for Canadian agriculture.

With the appointments of Drs. DeVries and Weersink, the Alliance has a full complement of RPDs providing the vital leadership that researchers and Alliance staff rely upon to successfully deliver the Alliance Research Programs. Please join me in congratulating them.

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