Agreement Between The Ontario Ministry Of Agriculture, Food And Rural Affairs (Omafra) And The University Of Guelph

Partnership

OMAFRA and the University of Guelph have agreed to the terms of a new ten-year agreement, with a review after five years. The two institutions will collaborate on delivering research, laboratory and veterinary education programs, which include new initiatives to address emerging opportunities and trends.

Research

• OMAFRA and university staff will work more collaboratively to better plan research projects and transfer results to people who can use them in the industry.
• OMAFRA and the university plan to consult with industry to determine how all parties can work together more effectively in getting research results into practical applications more quickly.
• In the future, the partnership's research program will focus on seven themes that were recommended by the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario, a group of agri-food industry leaders who advise the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and reflect today's realities in the sector and our rural communities:
  
  
  • agriculture production systems
  • food for health
  • environmental sustainability
  • industrial uses for the bioeconomy
  • agriculture and rural policy
  • product development and enhancement
  • emergency preparedness.
    
    
• OMAFRA will contribute funding that supports the equivalent of 65 faculty positions in colleges/departments at the main campus of the university to enable a specialized focus on agriculture, food, environmental, veterinary and related sciences.
• The partnership will also support more than 55 technicians and administrative staff for the research programs at the main campus and at the three regional campuses. Additional staff required to operate agricultural research stations throughout Ontario will also continue to be supported.

Veterinary Clinical Education

The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is the largest and most research-intensive institution of its kind in Canada. Through the partnership, resources will continue to be provided for faculty and staff to support the OVC's teaching hospital, advanced clinical training program, an externship program for veterinary students, and a one-year post-graduate Veterinary Internship Program

Animal Health Laboratory

Funding will continue to pay the university's Animal Health Laboratory's certified specialists in virology, microbiology, toxicology and pathology, and to provide animal health diagnostic testing. A well-funded and run laboratory supports veterinarians and livestock organizations, contributes scientific and diagnostic expertise to support business decisions, and helps in the development of government policies and programs to mitigate threats to animal health.

Agriculture and Food Laboratory

The university's Agriculture and Food Laboratory supports the ministry's regulatory programs and provides emergency services in the event of an outbreak of foodborne illness or plant disease. More than 140 staff and diagnostic testing will continue to be funded for dairy food testing, foods of plant origin, meat inspection, plant diagnostics, Great Lakes water quality, and soil mapping.

Regional Campuses

The university's three regional campuses at Alfred, Ridgetown and Kemptville play a unique role in agri-food diploma education for the sector, and meet some of the specific education needs of their respective communities. Through a new arrangement with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, current staff and programming at these sites will be maintained, while encouraging the colleges to broaden their course offerings and expand their student populations based on community and industry needs.

Performance Management

The partnership will be reviewed annually and a report will be released publicly on the results achieved. An impact study will be completed in the fifth year to measure the longer term outcomes of the agreement including the economic and health benefits generated by the agreement.