Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Leona Dombrowsky, was in town today to announce a funding agreement with the University of Guelph. Over the next five years, OMAFRA will contribute $300 million to ongoing innovation research.
The money is destined for seven key areas:
- agricultural production systems
- food for health
- environmental sustainability
- industry uses for biotech products
- agriculture and rural policy
- product development and enhancement
- emergency preparedness
Dombrowsky stressed that the funding is meant to keep the Ontario sector “on the cutting edge”, and that collaboration is essential to the quest for excellence. She believes in the power of working with educators on agricultural technology and advancement, which is the reason for the “renewed and improved partnership” between the ministry and the university.
The previous agreement, in place since 1997, saw an annual investment of $54 million yield a return of $1 billion, according to a recent Deloitte report.
Concluding her speech, Dombrowsky promised that every time she appears at a podium from now on, she will encourage people to look for and prefer Ontario products. “When farmers do well, the places they live do well” was the phrase she used to underline the need to support rural communities.
Dombrowsky was flanked by Liz Sandals, MPP for Guelph-Wellington, Karen Farbridge, mayor of Guelph, and Alastair Summerlee, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guelph, as she made the announcement. Attendees included University staff and students, current and former deputy ministers, members of producer groups, sector organizations, input suppliers, and media representatives.
