Reading Time: 3 minutes A preventive influenza vaccine for pigs was launched in Ontario last year. Now, new data supports anecdotal evidence from the industry that the regional vaccine is making a difference in managing an increasingly virulent disease. Piglets born to vaccinated sows showed higher average daily gain, lower mortality and fewer clinical signs of disease, according to […] Read more
Author Archives
Regional vaccine helps manage swine influenza
The Ontario-specific vaccine is made up of strains commonly seen in the area
Mobile genetic testing technology wins Guelph pitch competition
Harvest Genomics aims to provide on-location genetic testing of food
Reading Time: 3 minutes A Guelph-based start-up with plans to bring mobile genetic testing to agriculture was the winner of the second annual University of Guelph Gryphon’s LAAIR pitch competition, held online May 27. Harvest Genomics will use its $10,000 prize to develop and bring to market a portable DNA system that will make testing capabilities currently only available […] Read more
Beneficial bacteria found to boost crop yields, increase drought tolerance
Ontario-developed product still coming to market, will be applied as liquid
Reading Time: 3 minutes A Canadian crop nutrition company is using Trent University research into yield-boosting microbes to bring a new bioinoculant to market. Toronto-based NutriAg Ltd. and biology professor Dr. Neil Emery have received funding through a program supporting genomics-based technologies to refine and commercialize the innovation. The beneficial microbes discovered by Emery and his team have been […] Read more
Sensor technology could prevent foreign material contamination in processing plants
Contamination is detected from a distance away from the assembly line, avoiding extra cleaning and processes
Reading Time: 3 minutes A Calgary-based start-up is about to start trials on an innovation for food processing facilities it says can prevent foreign material contamination of food products. E.O.I Technologies is preparing to launch a pilot project with a major poultry processor in the southern United States that focuses on large-scale, remote monitoring and predictive analytics of conveyor […] Read more
Growth opportunities coming for oats
The crop has become a leading alternative to cow’s milk in beverages
Reading Time: 3 minutes Oats have long had a reputation as a heart-healthy cereal, but the plant-based eating trend is creating new opportunities for this crop. That includes oat-based dairy alternatives, in particular oat beverages. Nielsen data shows an almost 250 per cent increase in Canadian oat beverage sales over the last two years, and in the U.S., oat […] Read more
Livestock research evolves under COVID-19
University of Guelph research in livestock is an essential service
Reading Time: 3 minutes Livestock research is moving quickly to adjust to the COVID-19 reality. The disease also means new research opportunities at the University of Guelph. Most active livestock research at the university falls into three categories: shut down, scale back, or continuing/new, said Ontario Agriculture College Dean Dr. Rene Van Acker. “We aren’t closed as we fall […] Read more
Ontario company creates solution for COVID-19 monitoring
Farm biosecurity and traceability systems could monitor worker movement and reduce shutdowns
Reading Time: 3 minutes A Guelph start-up has developed a tool to help in the fight against COVID-19 using technology from two of its smart livestock monitoring applications. Virtual Studios founder Joel Sotomayor says their Tactical Response Against COVID-19 Epidemic (TRACE) solution can help maintain essential services and reduce disease spread by letting employers locate and isolate COVID-19 on […] Read more
A helping hand for agriculture and food start-ups
The RH Accelerator aims to provide mentorship and to help fund new agriculture businesses
Reading Time: 3 minutes Throughout his career, Joe Dales has had a passion for innovation, agriculture and bringing new tools to farmers. He caught the entrepreneurial bug in the early days of the internet, creating what today is Farms.com. Now he’s putting his network and years of experience to work helping early stage entrepreneurs get their ideas off the […] Read more
Guelph students ‘hack the farm’ for innovative solutions
Students tackled agricultural issues ranging from improved food packaging to better crop yield predictions
Reading Time: 3 minutes An idea for better waste water management at a local brewery won top honours in the third annual Improve Life Challenge Hackathon at the University of Guelph on March 6. The theme for this year’s day-long event was Hack the Farm in a Climate of Change where teams of students worked with community partners to […] Read more
Plant growth boosted with water-based carbon dioxide
The Canadian system allows hoop-structure growers to use carbon dioxide as a growth enhancer
Reading Time: 3 minutes An Ontario company has patented technology to dissolve carbon dioxide into water and apply it to plants to make them grow faster while also reducing disease problems. Toronto-based CO2 GRO launched early in 2018 and has sold systems to growers of crops like lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, cannabis and microgreens. Although many greenhouse growers are already […] Read more
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