New funding supports 34 research projects delivering market-ready solutions for Ontario farmers.
The Ontario government is committing up to $7 million to support 34 new research projects aimed at transforming innovative ideas into practical, market-ready solutions for farmers and food processors across the province.
Delivered through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, the funding underscores the province’s ongoing strategy to strengthen its agri-food sector by equipping producers with modern tools and technologies. The initiative is designed to enhance productivity, sustainability, and long-term resilience in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
Supporting Farmers with Practical Innovation
Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Trevor Jones emphasized that the investment will help ensure farmers remain leaders in food production.
“Today’s investment will help Ontario farmers remain leaders in food production, delivering safe and high-quality local food to our communities and to markets around the world,” Jones said.
“Through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, we are ensuring farmers have access to the solutions and technologies to build a stronger, more competitive and resilient agri-food sector.”
Focus on Real-World Challenges
The 2026 research projects address a wide range of on-farm and environmental challenges, with a focus on delivering tangible benefits for producers.
Key initiatives include:
- Using advanced satellite imaging and machine learning to map flooded areas and identify potential wetlands on farmland
- Impact of Urease and Nitrification Inhibitors on the Most Economic Rate of Nitrogen for Corn at Both Preplant and Side-Dress Application Timing
- Protecting Wheat From Newly Emerging 3ANX Chemotypes of Fusarium Head Blight
- Integrated Weed Management Strategies for the Control of Herbicide-Resistant Weeds in Ontario
- Utilizing 4R-Nitrogen Management to Mitigate Winter Cereal Rye Cover Crop Effects Before Grain Corn: A Provincial Approach
- Improving cost efficiency in pig farming through optimized nutrition and production management strategies
- Uncovering Hidden Drivers of Sow Removal with Advanced Epidemiological Methods
- Precision Feeding in Robot Milked Cows to Improve Feed Efficiency and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Smart Drone-Based Pollination System for Greenhouse Production
- Developing prevention and management strategies to reduce losses in pepper crops
- Quantifying the Compactability of Agricultural Soils In Ontario
These projects highlight a growing emphasis on applying advanced technologies and data-driven approaches to improve farm productivity and environmental stewardship.
Leveraging Ontario’s Research Infrastructure
Ontario’s agri-food research ecosystem plays a critical role in advancing innovation. The province is home to 14 research properties owned by the Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO), spanning 5,600 acres and more than 220 buildings.
This infrastructure enables researchers to conduct high-impact studies across a wide range of agricultural disciplines, from crop science to livestock management and environmental sustainability.
Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, noted the importance of maintaining strong research capacity within the province.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that Ontario continues to leverage homegrown research to deliver real-world solutions that drive our agri-food sector,” Quinn said. “Through this investment, our government is ensuring that researchers from across the province, including at the University of Guelph, can continue making groundbreaking discoveries that keep Ontario on the cutting edge of farming and agri-food innovation.”
A Strategic Contrast in Research Direction
Ontario’s continue investment in research comes at a time when federal agri-food research capacity is undergoing change. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada recently announced the closure of seven research and development sites nationwide, along with workforce reductions of approximately 665 positions as part of cost-saving measures.
Against this backdrop, Ontario’s commitment to expanding research funding signals a strategic focus on strengthening provinicial innovation and ensuring continued access to regionally relevant agricultural solutions.
“Ontario’s continued investment in the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance reflects the value of a long-standing partnership focused on strengthening the province’s agri-food sector through research, innovation and talent development," according to Dr. Rene Van Acker, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Guelph.
"As Canada’s top-ranked university for agriculture and forestry, and veterinary sciences, and a globally recognized leader in both fields, the University of Guelph is proud to work alongside the province through a collaborative model that leverages every provincial dollar with additional U of G investment to
advance research and discovery, support student success and employability, and deliver practical solutions that help drive resilience, growth and competitiveness across Ontario’s agri-food economy.”