Grain Farmers of Ontario gives $2M to U of G

A generous gift for the University of Guelph to start 2023.

The Grain Farmers of Ontario is giving $2 million to the university to support the creation of a new job at its Ridgetown campus.

The new position, which is a Grain Farmers of Ontario professorship in field crop pathology, will help the university maintain what it said is "leading expertise in field crop research and teaching."

It said the main goal is to look at ways to protect grain crops from costly plant diseases under climate change and other factors.

“This funding support from Grain Farmers of Ontario is significant for farmers and farms across Ontario,” Ridgetown campus director Brett Shepherd said in a news release.

“It’s critically important that we be proactive, not just reactive, in identifying and developing strategies against these pathogens.”

The chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario said it recognizes the need for this position.

“Field crops are the foundation of every food system in the world, and ensuring a focus on excellence in field crop research is vital to farming and the food security enjoyed by Canadians," Brendan Byrne said.

The university said a faculty member will be appointed later this year.