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Bill George named 2017 Niagara Peninsula Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association Award of Merit recipient

The Grape Growers of Ontario are honoured to announce that Bill George was named as the recipient of the 2017 Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (NPF&VGA) Award of Merit at a special event held at Balls Falls last evening.

“The NPF&VGA is pleased to present Bill George with the 2017 Award of Merit in recognition of the time and dedication he has given to the grape and wine industry in Niagara,” said Jeff Duc, President, Niagara Peninsula Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association.

Bill,  pictured with his wife Leslieann and NPF&VGA President Jeff Duc (photo credit: Denis Cahill) was first elected to the Grape Growers of Ontario’s Growers’ Committee and to the Board of Directors in 1994, and was re-elected every year until he stepped down in 2016. In 2001 Bill was recognized by his peers and named Grape King to represent Ontario’s grape growing industry to government, media and other grape growing regions. Following his term as Grape King, Bill was elected Vice Chair in 2003, and became Chair of the Board in 2007. In January 2017, Bill was elected Vice Chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.

"Bill led the GGO through many challenges with determination, integrity and always with a focus on achieving the best possible outcome for the Ontario grape and wine industry,” said Matthias Oppenlaender, Chair, Grape Growers of Ontario. “He added so much value over his nine years as Chair and left the industry balanced and strategically positioned for growth when he stepped down.”

“I enjoyed my time on the Board of the Grape Growers of Ontario, and miss my day-to-day interactions with my peers and staff,” said Bill George. “Grape growing is in my blood and I will always be interested in the future of Ontario’s grape and wine industry.”

Source: Grape Growers of ontario


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.