News

The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) community is saddened by the passing of alumnus Kenneth Rubert "Ken" Graydon, who died peacefully on July 22, 2026, at the age of 91.

A proud OAC graduate, Graydon earned both his bachelor's (Class of 1956) and master's degrees in agricultural science before building a distinguished career in communications, education and community leadership. He began as a farm radio broadcaster with CBC in the late 1950s, helping connect Canadian farmers with news and information before moving into association management.

A University of Guelph Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) PhD candidate is helping farmers protect one of Canada's most important crops using artificial intelligence.

A century-long commitment to protecting honey bees has reached an exciting milestone, as the Luckevich Pinchin Honey Bee Research Centre (HBRC) opens its doors to continue the University of Guelph’s reputation as a leading centre for honey bee research and education.

Congratulations to Dr. Paul Spagnuolo, professor in OAC's Department of Food Science, on receiving the prestigious 2026 Willmar Schwabe Award by the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Resesarch. 

Canada’s food system is one of our country’s strengths, but success depends on the capacity to develop talent, advance innovation and convene partners. By Dr. John Cranfield, dean, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph. 

A big congratulations to Munira Abdul-Nasir, one of FARE’s incoming graduate students, who has been awarded the prestigious Arrell Food Institute Scholarship, valued at $100,000.

Munira has been admitted into the M.Sc. program in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE) at the University of Guelph under the supervision of Dr. Getu Hailu. Originally from Accra, Ghana, she recently graduated magna cum laude from New York University Abu Dhabi with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (with a minor in Math), specializing in Development Economics.

The FSD’s Cheese Makers Program has successfully achieved full accreditation under the Food Processing Skills Canada Accreditation Program. This accomplishment highlights our dedication to providing high‑quality training that meets established Food and Beverage Industry competency standards. The accreditation framework is based on ISO/IEC 17011, an internationally recognized standard for evaluating excellence in training programs. This is the first program in Canada to achieve such accreditation.

One of the University of Guelph’s highest distinctions, the Order of OAC, has been awarded to Anne and Brian Wilcock in recognition of their outstanding contributions to OAC.

Professor Emerita Anne Wilcock continues to play an essential role in the Department of Food Science, serving as a vital contributor to the delivery of the Food Safety and Quality Assurance program. Her enduring commitment reflects both her passion for education and her deep connection to the University community.

The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) is saddened to share the passing of David Morris, a proud OAC alumnus and longtime supporter of the College, who died on June 24, 2026, at the age of 74.