Members of the federal Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry visited the University of Guelph today to learn how education and research can help Canada’s value-added food sector become more globally competitive and how best to support the sector.
The group’s U of G stop was part of a three-day southern Ontario tour, including meetings with industry and academic leaders.
Students from across campus, including the Ontario Agricultural College, discussed their classroom and workplace experience in agri-food and value-added food and discussed solutions to current problems in the sector. In talking about workforce shortages in agri-food, they noted that four jobs exist in the province for every U of G agriculture and farming graduate.
Meeting with president Franco Vaccarino, Malcolm Campbell, vice-president (research), and Daniel Atlin, vice-president (external), the committee members discussed U of G’s teaching and research strengths as Canada’s food university.
The group toured the Guelph Food Innovation Centre, whose research services ensure safety, quality and cost-effectiveness in food manufacturing, specifically cheese and ice cream products.