This year the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) celebrates a decade of its Beef Researcher Mentorship Program, which has connected more than 40 mentees with countless beef producer and industry mentors to bridge the gap between science and industry.
Launched in 2014, the program was inspired by the need for stronger connections between researchers and industry. Andrea Brocklebank, executive director of the BCRC, recalls, “The BCRC was noticing that many new researchers were not from a farm background or were unfamiliar with Canadian production.” Over the past 10 years, the program has fostered a new generation of forage, cattle and beef researchers with stronger ties to producers and the beef industry. “Through the mentorship program, we’ve been able to bridge that gap between science and production, equipping researchers with tools to push the industry’s goals forward while improving sustainability and competitiveness,” says Brocklebank.
Funded through the National Beef Cluster, the mentorship initiative encourages new and early-career researchers to engage more deeply with Canada’s beef industry. It provides participants with hands-on opportunities to understand the industry’s needs while helping them align their work with practical applications.
Goals of the Beef Researcher Mentorship Program
The mentorship program aims to: