Research

Rural businesses are finding it more difficult since the pandemic to attract and retain workers, with some sectors--like food services-- experiecing the most difficulty.

These are some of the key findings emerging from an Alliance-funded University of Guelph survey, which is part of a multi-year research initiative examining labour shortages in rural communities called Addressing Labour Shortages through Newcomer Attraction in Rural Ontario. 

In early 2024, an outbreak of avian influenza virus (AIV) in U.S. dairy cattle prompted a burst of alarming news headlines and calls for action in the scientific community.

Up to this point, nobody knew the H5N1 strain of influenza could spread to cattle—though it had already devastated poultry flocks around the world and was known to circulate among hundreds of avian species and about 50 species of mammals.

A demonstration of automation and ag robotics attracted about 170 fruit and vegetable growers to the Ontario Crops Research Centre – Simcoe in early July. 

“The day was a chance to showcase new technologies that solve problems in the ag industry,” said Torin Boyle, site manager at the centre. “It’s a partnership between the Ag Robotics Working Group, Western Fair District, and the University of Guelph.”

U of G-led research delivers agri-food innovation

Engineering a robot to harvest tomatoes, making microplastic-free green composites and using responsible artificial intelligence are among more than 40 University of Guelph agri-food research projects receiving more than $7 million in new funding from the Government of Ontario.

This funding will support U of G research that delivers solutions for Ontario’s farmers, agribusinesses and rural communities

U of G research has revealed some of the reasons new veterinary graduates are not dedicating their futures to attending to food animals, like beef and dairy cows, in some areas of rural Ontario, particularly northern Ontario. This research is now informing solutions to improve veterinary access for Ontario’s livestock farmers, grow the economy and deliver home-grown food to Ontarians.

The new system, which could save growers tens of thousands of dollars per year, is based on research from Dr. Keith Warriner, food safety and microbiology professor in U of G's Department of Food Science, and developed and patented by Catharines, Ont., company Clean Works.

A groundbreaking study published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems highlights the opportunities and obstacles facing Ontario potato producers regarding the adoption of best management practices (BMPs).

Huber currently has four active research streams, all with projects underway at the new Ontario Swine Research Centre in Elora.

Read about her projects investigating lactating sows, amino acids, mammary development and novel feed ingredients on the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) website: Using research to solve practical swine industry problems

This partnership will see students and scientists from both institutions collborating to communicate about the incredibly important and groundbreaking work U of G's Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) does every day.