Ontario is investing in innovative agri-food research

Jul 19, 2024

The Ontario government is investing $7.2 million in The Ontario government is investing $7.2 million in 44 Ontario-led research and innovation projects . This investment is being made through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the province, the University of Guelph and Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO).

“We have a number of ambitious goals for the industry, and research and innovation will play a key role in helping us achieve them,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Through this investment, we are helping to create an environment where farmers and agri-businesses can leverage the latest research advancements, products and innovations. This will strengthen their operations and position the entire agriculture and food sector for growth and economic success.”

Funded projects focus on protecting animal and plant health, strengthening production systems, increasing environmental sustainability, and bolstering productivity and growth. Project examples include:

- Creating a carbon capture system to store and reuse carbon dioxide in greenhouses, enhancing sustainability and reducing emissions.

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Video: Democratizing Gene Editing - Pairwise’s Vision for the Future of Agriculture

Pairwise has built its business around an idea that runs counter to how many companies approach innovation: make transformative technology easier to access.

In this Seed World interview, CEO Tom Adams discusses why broader access to gene editing could speed crop improvement, expand innovation opportunities and help agriculture address emerging challenges. He explains why Pairwise believes no single company can solve all of agriculture's problems alone—and why making advanced breeding technologies available to more organizations could accelerate progress across the industry.

The conversation explores how consumer trust influences technology adoption, why innovations like pitless cherries and seedless blackberries matter beyond convenience, and how future crop improvements could help address labor shortages, automation, harvest efficiency and other production challenges. Adams also shares his perspective on what the industry may be underestimating about the next wave of gene editing innovation.

Watch the full interview to hear why Pairwise believes agriculture is approaching an important inflection point for gene editing, and why the pace of innovation over the next decade could surprise the industry.

Topics Covered:

o Democratizing agricultural innovation

o Consumer trust and technology adoption

o The business case for sharing innovation

o Expanding innovation beyond major crops

o Next-generation breeding technologies