Sustainable Agriculture Program Launches with Hands-On Summer Experiences at Ridgetown Campus
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.
Throughout the summer, students visited food producers, farms, research centres, and agri-businesses to gain a first-hand understanding of the real-world challenges and solutions shaping Ontario agricultural sector. This applied learning experience allowed them to network with employers, see innovation in action, and deepen their knowledge of sustainability in diverse agricultural systems.
They explored a range of sustainability-focused topics through site visits, including:
- biological pest control in greenhouse production at Growliv
- horticulture production and research at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Harrow Research and Development Centre, and the Centre for Horticultural Innovation, and Nature Fresh Farms
- drone applications in agriculture with Drone Spray Canada
- sustainable greenhouse production with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFRA), Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG), and Truly Green Farms
- sustainability in grain production with the Grain Farmers of Ontario and Great Lakes Grain
During their Ridgetown semester, MSAg students are also completing a course in professional development which helped build their skills in networking, certifications and career-readiness. After their semester at Ridgetown, the MSAg students move to the Guelph campus to complete the remainder of their program.
Learn more about the Master's in Sustainable Agriculture program
Hands-on Learning in Agriculture
For Pranshu Bhatia, a student from India with a deep passion for sustainability, the Ridgetown start has been invaluable.
“Ridgetown Campus has been a great place to learn,” says Bhatia. “The smaller community, accessibility to faculty, and the proximity to so many agricultural operations make it ideal.”
Bhatia appreciated the program’s early focus on showcasing the technology and innovation that underpins the sustainability efforts in Ontario agriculture.
“Visiting agri-food producers early in the program is essential because it helps us understand the sustainability challenges from the ground up, and see how farmers and industry are responding,” says Bhatia.
Ashley Gifford, who completed her undergraduate degree in biology at Queen’s University, sees the program as an important step toward her career ambitions.
“I want to be a leader in sustainable agri-food systems, and this program is giving me the tools to do that,” says Gifford. “Combining my background in ecology with new agricultural knowledge is allowing me to look at food production through a broader environmental and sustainability lens.”
Dr. Jocelyn Smith, a professor in the MSAg program at Ridgetown Campus, notes that this kind of experiential learning helps students shape their thinking for the rest of the program.
“By engaging with producers and seeing operations first-hand, students begin to conceptualize the big-picture challenges and start framing them in a way that makes their classroom learning more impactful. They get to see the complexity of these issues, and potential solutions, right from the start.”
About the Master in Sustainable Agriculture Program
The MSAg program is a 16-month, course-based master’s degree designed for recent graduates or early-to-mid professionals who want to enhance their skills and knowledge for career advancement. The MSAg emphasizes applied learning through coursework rather than conducting a research program. Students can specialize their sustainable agriculture degree in plant agriculture, livestock agriculture, or environmental sciences. Courses are delivered at both the Ridgetown and Guelph campuses.
OAC is recognized internationally as a leader in agri-food and sustainability, ranked #1 in Canada for agricultural science and animal science. The new program reflects this expertise, offering students an innovative and career-defining path into the rapidly evolving sustainable agriculture sector.
Learn more about the Master's in Sustainable Agriculture program