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Ontario says they’re investing more than $5.4 million in 28 new research projects through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, helping the province’s $51 billion agri-food sector remain competitive in the face of global pressures like U.S. tariffs.
The funding will support a wide range of projects aimed at turning research into real-world solutions. Among the innovations being explored: battery-powered robots that use artificial intelligence to manage pests in soybean fields, advanced technology to protect honeybee colonies from Varroa mites, and new economic data tools to help farmers identify market shifts and explore trade opportunities.
Ontario Agriculture Minister Trevor Jones says the investment will support innovation, job creation and economic growth in rural communities across the province. He says the goal is to empower Ontario producers with tools they need to adapt and thrive in a changing global landscape.
The research is being supported through a partnership with the University of Guelph and Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO), which oversees 14 agri-food research sites across the province.
The $5.4 million is part of a larger six-year, $40 million funding commitment to the Alliance’s Tier 1 research programming. Each project is selected through a competitive review process.
Officials say the investment also supports the province’s broader Grow Ontario Strategy, which focuses on boosting innovation and increasing adoption of new technologies within the agri-food industry. The strategy is aimed at ensuring Ontario remains a national and global leader in food production, processing and agricultural research.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
