Features

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.

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.

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.

The Ontario Agricultural College’s new Master’s in Sustainable Agriculture (MSAg) program launched this summer at the Ridgetown Campus, welcoming its first cohort of students from across the globe. They began their studies with a practical, hands-on semester in southwestern Ontario, engaging directly with the region’s dynamic agri-food sector.

Dr. Biniam Kebede, a newly appointed professor in the Department of Food Science at the Ontario Agricultural College, leads the Food Bioprocessing and Data Science Lab, where ancient fermentation meets cutting-edge digital innovation. 

OAC alumni from the 1970s won the OAC Alumni Decade Challenge, a friendly competition pitting decades of graduates against one another. Held as part of OAC’s 150th anniversary celebrations, the challenge highlighted both OAC pride and the enduring tradition of giving back that has shaped the College since its earliest days. 

At the heart of the friendly competition was a shared commitment: supporting students — today and tomorrow — as they learn, lead and make an impact in agriculture, food, communities and the environment. 

The University of Guelph deepened its role as a leader in Indigenous environmental science and knowledge last week, welcoming Indigenous youth from several First Nations to campus for an immersive week of land-based learning, knowledge exchange, and environmental science exploration.