Alberta Veterinary Surveillance Network (AVSN) is a unique effort in Alberta which provides diagnostic pathology and disease investigation support to veterinary practitioners to detect and respond to animal health issues that may affect public health, food safety, or market access that serves the mutual benefits of veterinarians, industry and government. Latest research reveals that Infrared […]

Fruits such as peaches and plums are highly perishable fruits with a very short shelf life and hence are aptly called ‘tender fruits’. This necessitates the growing of several varieties that ripen at different time slots to ensure that there is a continual supply of these fruits in the market during the short season of […]

The objective of this project is to develop a novel agricultural‐based approach for producing high levels of stearidonic acid (SDA)‐containing seed oil in plants using co‐cultivation with microbial inoculants. Production of seed oil enriched in SDA, a dietary product possessing proven health benefits, is promising for use as animal and human diet supplements. SDA has […]

Asparagus contains rutin, a falconoid associated with anti‐carcinogenic properties and decreased cholesterol and heart disease. Ontario growers could benefit from value‐added or ‘branded’ asparagus products that can be marketed based on the health benefits of rutin, for example, fresh product in grocery stores, or asparagus flour as a supplement in bread and pasta, made from […]

The Ontario beef industry is a significant part of the agricultural economy, accounting for the highest farm cash receipts in the sector. Through linkages to other parts of the economy, beef production employs thousands of Ontarians and generates $1.4 billion for the provincial economy. The industry is under threat, however, from such challenges as trade […]

The proposed project entails the intern working with Mark Betteridge & Associates to develop an innovative business plan for the company's recently acquired farm near Comox, British Columbia. The business plan will emphasize the development of a set of business activities which utilize highly innovative technologies, are economically sound, result in a low environmental and […]

The ability to forecast crop yields early in the growing season is of intense interest to many in the agrifood industry. Producers use this information to strategically apply additional fertilizers and/or pesticides in problem areas to maximize their harvest. Marketers use it to negotiate higher selling prices. Obtaining reliable crop information during the growing season […]

Workers in pig production barns can be exposed to hazards such as hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas which is emitted from stored pig manure. In the oil industry where H2S is also a serious concern, a treatment approach was successfully developed for controlling H2S emissions. This project will evaluate the applicability of the treatment in swine […]

The project will focus on providing methods to secure the supply of Northern Spy apples for Chudleigh’s Ltd, an major international bakery located in Southern Ontario. Northern Spy, an apple cultivar discovered in the state of New York nearly 200 years ago, has a number of desirable attributes for baking, most notably for pie making. […]

CENNATEK Bioanalytical Services Inc. is leading a R&D project with the goal of using Jerusalem artichoke as a feedstock for the production of ethanol, inulin and biomass pellets. The Jerusalem artichoke crop contains large amounts of carbohydrates, mainly inulin, which can be converted to sugars such as fructose. Fructose is used as a sweetener in […]

The demands of precision agriculture have caused significant changes to agricultural machines. Improved sensor technology makes it possible to monitor numerous parameters. Access to GPS signals has made it possible to monitor the variation in yield within a field. Perhaps the most significant change is that access to the GPS signal has made it possible […]

This research offers the potential of greater legume crop yields through the identification of key growth signaling metabolites and their future use in plant breeding programs. Recent discoveries suggest that there is a major role for cytokinins, a group of growth hormones, in the yield of rice and possibly other plants, such as legumes. To […]