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About the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance

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  3. About the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance

Designed to deliver solutions

The Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance is a world-class government-university collaboration designed to deliver Ontario agri-food solutions with global impact.

The Alliance brings together the University of Guelph, Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO), and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.

Together we support Ontario’s $51 billion agri-food sector through research and innovation, training and laboratory services.

People, places and programs of the Alliance

Alliance people, places and programs grow a stronger, safer and more sustainable agri-food sector by:

  • Advancing research, innovation and the adoption of new technologies
  • Building confidence and resilience in the supply chain and export markets
  • Developing the future skilled workforce
  • Promoting rural economic development

Learn more

  • Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and Ministry of Rural Affairs
  • Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO)

Quick links

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  • Indigenization, equity, diversity and inclusion
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6 unique programs
The Alliance supports Ontario's agri-food sector through research and innovation, laboratory services, veterinary capacity, regulatory training, and property management.
1900+ people
Student researchers, faculty experts, lab technicians and intellectual property professionals are among the people who work together to deliver the Alliance's world-class research and programming.
14 places across Ontario
ARIO-owned research sites and investments at U of G's Guelph campus create an unparalleled research and innovation platform that spans agri-food sectors, commodities and micro-climates.

People

People are the engine of the Alliance, driving research, innovation and adoption of new technologies while training (and becoming) the next cohort of agricultural leaders. Agri-food experts congregate at Canada’s Food University, creating a unique environment for idea-sharing, collaboration and exploration.

  • Centralized and diverse agri-food expertise attracts, inspires and benefits students.
  • Alliance-funded research integrates student development and learning.
  • Hands-on veterinary, agricultural and laboratory training develops Ontario’s future workforce and promotes the agri-food sector.
  • The Alliance supports and attracts world-class expertise in agricultural, veterinary and food science.
  • Researchers can apply for operating funds through a competitive research program.
  • Researchers also benefit from Alliance-funded technicians and staff members who analyze samples, take care of animals, manage facilities, perform procedures, manage data, and more.
  • Alliance funding helps build and maintain capacity in laboratory testing and analysis, ensuring the scientific personnel at the Animal Health Laboratory and Agriculture and Food Laboratory are prepared to respond to evolving supply chain and food safety challenges.
  • Alliance funding helps build teams of trained technical staff to facilitate the success of research.
  • Technicians are essential partners with skills in plant breeding, animal care, data management and more.
  • Research program directors are U of G faculty members who help to ensure that Alliance research meets priorities set by the Government of Ontario.
  • As leaders in their fields, they forge relationships within the University and outside it.
  • See the list of research program directors and their priority areas.
  • Staff on the University of Guelph Office of Research, Agri-Food Partnership team manage the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.

Contact the Agri-Food Partnership Team

Places

Alliance places are the testing grounds for innovation. As hubs for training and engagement, Ontario’s agri-food research centres attract vital talent and enable the sector to adopt new technology. Unique on-campus facilities enable U of G researchers to study the food chain from farm to fork.

  • A province-wide network of research and outreach hubs connects industry partners, the Government of Ontario and the University of Guelph to ensure Ontario producers and consumers benefit from the promise of research.
  • Ontario’s agri-food research centres are owned by the Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO), an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), and managed by the University of Guelph through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.

Learn more about ARIO research centres.

  • The Alliance supports select on-campus facilities that contribute to Ontario's agri-food research sector.

Learn more about Alliance-supported on-campus facilities.

Programs

Alliance programs transform agricultural, veterinary, and analytical expertise into impact, returning value to Ontarians. Unique, consolidated expertise in agriculture, food science and animal health leads to synergies unique to U of G.

  • Research Program: The Alliance funds priority-driven research, training of highly qualified personnel, and knowledge mobilization programs designed to meet the needs of Ontario's agri-food sectors and rural communities. Visit the funding programs section of our website to learn more about our programming.
  • Knowledge Translation and Transfer Services and Resources: The Alliance is committed to “getting science off the shelf” and provides services and resources for the research community. View KTT Supports.
  • The Alliance provides funding for the Ontario Veterinary College's Health Sciences Centre, advanced clinical training, research and externships for students and the OVC's Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses.

Visit the Veterinary Capacity Program page.

  • The AFL provides high quality, special purpose laboratory services in support of Ontario's agriculture and food sectors and rural communities.
  • The AHL is a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory that supports provincial animal disease diagnosis and surveillance.
  • The Regulatory Training Program supports the development of critical, non-discretionary training, education and certification for regulatory requirements under provincial legislation. It also supports the digital delivery of eLearning courses for food safety, traceability and farm business management.

Visit the Regulatory Training Program page.

  • The Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance combines University of Guelph expertise in designing and managing research facilities with long-term investment from Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO) and the Government of Ontario to deliver an unparalleled agri-food innovation platform.

Visit the Property Management page.

Every year the Alliance publishes an annual report detailing the activities, budgets, expenditures and performance measures for each of the Alliance's four program areas. These reports can be found on The Atrium, U of G's institutional repository of digital resources.

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This website is managed by the University of Guelph. Views expressed here are the views of the University and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Ontario.