News

The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) community mourns the passing of Helmut Loewen, a proud member of the OAC Class of 1960 (Crop Science), who passed away peacefully after a short illness.

When Natalia Piedrahita began her studies at the University of Guelph’s Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE), she never imagined her research would one day shape conversations at the Africa Food Systems Forum. Today, as a gender economist working with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, her work is influencing how governments, researchers, and organizations think about the future of food systems, particularly through the lens of women and youth.

Having robust and comprehensive integrated pest management (IPM) is essential to protecting crops and supporting a strong, sustainable food system in Ontario. U of G Ridgetown Campus alumna Cara McCreary is at the forefront of protecting Ontario’s food supply and has dedicated her career to advancing pest control strategies in controlled environments.

It is with great sympathy that we share the passing of Arthur “Art” of Winthrop, OAC Class of 1955 on September 25, 2025. He was 94.

After graduating from OAC in 1955, Art worked as Assistant Ag Rep in Huron County, before returning full time to the McKillop family farm. Following in his father’s footsteps, he became a Select Seed Grower, growing, processing and selling Certified Seed to local farmers and as far away as PEI and Manitoba under the trade name R.T. Bolton and Son.

Graduate student Julianna Tindall is exploring how cover crop grazing affects soil health, crop yields, and livestock systems. Her cross-disciplinary research in OAC’s Forage and Service Crops lab impacts agronomy, economics, and animal nutrition to provide Ontario farmers with practical insights for sustainable farming.

Sanctions target ruling elites with economic pressure instead of weapons. Yet they often come with unintended consequences, as they raise food prices and harm vulnerable populations. A concern raised by Dr. S. Kwaku Afesorgbor in his new article in The Conversation.

After two weeks of heavy foot traffic,recent FARE graduate Tim Shuh of Shuh Orchards in West Montrose, Ont., reports as many as 500 pounds of apples have been stolen, prompting the farm to ban wagons, strollers and backpacks. Agritourism Ontario says many farms are having a similar issue with theft.

Read in CBC News: https://apple.news/Afu0uGcbXTbOhIH9-aAl9yg

A healthy agricultural sector starts with a healthy environment. As a PhD candidate in the OAC’s Environmental Sciences program with a collaborative specialization in International Development Studies, Chi Vi is helping farmers build more sustainable practices from the ground up by measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions directly on their farms. 

Economic sanctions are widely viewed by academics and policymakers as a better alternative to military interventions to pressure governments to change objectionable policies. The idea is simple: instead of using weapons, squeeze the ruling elite economically until they change their behaviour.

The sheer volume of raw information can be overwhelming for researchers trying to pinpoint which traits will produce the most resilient, high-yielding crops. That’s where artificial intelligence steps in.