University of Guelph students conduct research at the Ontario Dairy Research Centre in Elora.

ARIO Act revamp to include food processing, updated name

The agricultural research body may get its first major update in 60 years

A proposed modernization of the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario Act would broaden its mandate and update language that now limits its scope. Ontario released a discussion paper on the potential updates and changes to the Act on March 15 and will accept comments until April 14. Why it matters: The Agricultural Research Institute of […] Read more

Lisa Thompson, right, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, announced an investment in the Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, along with Charlotte Yates, president of the University of Guelph and Malcolm Campbell, vice-president of research at the University of Guelph.

Province invests $343 million into Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance

Previous funding resulted in $1.4 billion boost to Ontario’s economy

The province is investing $343 million in the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance over the next five years. The Alliance is a collaboration between Ontario, the University of Guelph and the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario that supports and drives agri-food research and innovation. Why it matters: Ontario’s continued financial support of agri-food research, technology and […] Read more

thistle in wheat

Light signals from neighbouring weeds alter crop plant growth, yield

University of Guelph and USDA researchers uncover a new defense mechanism in plants

In the battle between weeds and crops, weeds are winning. A new theory developed by a University of Guelph researcher suggests why. For the first time, plant scientists have shown that weeds can alter crop growth from a distance by affecting light signals used by the crop plants to communicate. Clarence Swanton, a weed scientist […] Read more

Gino Giansante, meat science lab manager, explains how the CMIT facility works with smaller producers who struggle to access processing.

Centre building capacities for processing labour, research and tech development

Centre for Meat Innovation and Technology aims to carve new markets

The Centre for Meat Innovation and Technology may be Guelph’s best-kept secret.  Tucked away on the University of Guelph campus, CMIT provides training, product and process development, meat science research and technology adoption in collaboration with Meat and Poultry Ontario. Established in the 1960s, the university’s meat lab was refurbished in 2018 with an extension and […] Read more

One college in Ontario has an applied research facility that specializes in nutritional and shelf-life testing.

Ontario colleges serve as ‘surrogate R&D departments’ for agriculture industry

While universities are significant research partners, many colleges provide specialized services

Universities are well-known as centres for research and innovation, attracting both faculty and students based on the depth, breadth and qualities of their research enterprises. In Ontario, the University of Guelph is a particularly significant research partner for the agriculture sector. Less well-known is that many of Ontario’s 24 colleges are also home to centres […] Read more


The yield potential for corn depends on the interaction between both genetics and agronomy.

Many physiological factors driving corn yield growth

Agronomics and genetics interact in many ways and depend on each other for corn yield success

Do genetics or agronomics have the greatest influence on corn? That question was posed by Dave Hooker, a researcher with the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus at the recent Ontario Agricultural Conference. Hooker spoke on day two (Jan. 5) at the two-day event, which featured three in-person venues — Ridgetown, Waterloo and Kemptville — plus […] Read more

L-R, Paul Hoekstra, Rene Van Acker, Brendan Byrne, Brett Shepherd, Malcolm Campbell, Crosby Devitt.

GFO funds crop pathologist professorship

$2 million is being invested in the new position based at Ridgetown

Protecting grain crops from costly plant diseases under climate change and other factors is the main goal of a new $2 million gift to the University of Guelph from Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO).   The funding, announced Jan. 5 at the Ontario Agricultural Conference, will support a new Grain Farmers of Ontario Professorship in Field […] Read more

Research shows that the health of Canadian dairy calves is good, but producers can do better with managing antibiotic use.

Targeting improvements in calf health, welfare, antibiotic use

University of Guelph research shows Canadian dairy producers doing well but there is room for improvement

Calves can represent the future of the herd or provide an additional income stream for dairy farms, so it’s important that health challenges are kept to a minimum. Based on recent research at the University of Guelph, dairy farmers in Canada can take pride in the way they manage, house and care for replacement and […] Read more


Gabriel Allahdua (centre) is a migrant worker activist who will be working with the U of G’s Grounded Engagement Theory Lab as its first activist-in-residence.

Activist gets new post at University of Guelph

Migrant worker proponent first activist-in-residence

Gabriel Allahdua, a migrant worker activist, is the University of Guelph’s first activist-in-residence at its Grounded and Engagement Theory Lab (GET Lab). “It’s an emerging approach in our areas of study, and our goal is to advance it,” said Monique Deveaux in a U of G release. “We hope to foster community, knowledge sharing and […] Read more

We cannot continually mine the land without restoring the soil, suggests a past executive of a seed company.

New professorship to lead teaching and research in sustainable cropping

The Ontario Agricultural College chairholder will be supported by a $2 million gift from the Pick family

A newly-funded faculty chair at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) will be focused on growing food crops more efficiently while maintaining soil health.  Recruitment of the Martin and Denise Pick Family Chair in Sustainable Cropping Systems is underway and the position will be supported by a $2 million gift from the Pick […] Read more