A $5.4 million provincial funding boost through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance will help commercialize 28 innovative and advanced agri-food research projects.
“This strategic investment in research through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance will not only drive growth for local producers and agri-businesses,” said Dr. Rene Van Acker, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Guelph. “But also build the sector’s resilience by equipping the next generation of innovators with the tools and expertise to lead the future of food.”
Why it matters: The funding supports the Ontario government’s ambitious goal to enhance the province’s global standing in agri-food production, particularly amid ongoing U.S. tariffs.
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As a leading force in Canadian agri-food innovation, the Alliance leverages the university’s expertise in veterinary and agricultural sciences, as well as its dynamic agri-food research ecosystem, to develop new technologies, promote industry collaborations, and train a highly skilled workforce equipped to tackle Ontario’s most urgent and evolving agricultural challenges.
“Research supported through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance is making a real difference on Ontario farms,” said Paul Hoekstra, Grain Farmers of Ontario’s vice president of strategic development. “The work led by the University of Guelph is helping grain farmers manage pests and diseases, improve crop resilience and continue advancing sustainable practices.”
When science aligns with farmers’ needs, the resulting tools boost competitiveness and prepare for future challenges, said Hoekstra, especially when the University’s expertise in agri-food and rural research covers animal and plant health, production, rural and economic development, and sustainability.
Projects supported through the Alliance for the 2025-2026 research year include:
Using economic data to help farmers and businesses respond to market changes and explore new trade opportunities.
Developing a battery-powered, AI-driven robot to manage pests in soybean fields.
Creating healthier beehives using advanced technology to safeguard honeybee colonies from Varroa mites.
Assisting farmers in reducing costs by developing nutrition and production management strategies for pigs.
“Ontario’s universities are producing groundbreaking agricultural research that not only driving our province’s economy but also protecting Ontario’s food supply system for decades to come,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.
The funding ensures that U of G researchers have the tools necessary to continue advancing Ontario’s agricultural sector and solidify the province as a global leader in agri-food and business, added Quinn.
The initiative is part of Ontario’s $40 million investment in the Alliance’s Tier 1 research over six years, aimed at supporting the government’s Grow Ontario Strategy goals to enhance agri-food innovation and adoption through collaboration with industry partners, agribusinesses, and research organizations.
“(The investment) is empowering Ontario’s producers and innovators to turn world-class research into real-world solutions,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “By helping our farmers and agribusinesses innovate, create local jobs and compete globally, we’re ensuring that our rural communities continue to thrive in the face of economic uncertainty.”
