The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair celebrates its 101st anniversary in 2023.

The University of Guelph’s exhibit at the fair, centered on the Future of Food, promises an interactive experience and opportunities to learn about careers in the agri-food sector. Attendees will engage with student ambassadors – U of G’s emerging leaders – to learn about One Health and its work connecting animal, human, land and plant health.

Visitors can learn about the ways U of G researchers are advancing vertical farming, climate resilience, biodiversity, soil health, food security, AI and technology and much more. Learn how researchers are using robotics to detect plant disease and developing new methods to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables using cold plasma.

“The University of Guelph is proud of our continuing relationship with the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair,” said Dr. Rene Van Acker, interim vice-president (research).

“The Royal is an ideal venue for showcasing how our cutting-edge researchers are transforming the future of food and agriculture, changing the way we grow, think about and consume food.”

As the presenting education sponsor, U of G faculty and researchers from the Ontario Agricultural College will lead discussions at the Education Symposium: The Future of Food, from Nov. 7-9.

In featuring scientific innovations and emerging technologies in STEM fields, the symposium will highlight how these developments impact society, solving real-world problems in food and farming.

Among the speakers will be:

• Dr. Rene van Acker, Ontario Agricultural College dean, Dr. Asim Biswas, Ontario Agricultural College professor and Research Chair in Soils and Precision Agriculture and MSc student Laura Hanley will discuss Canada’s Moonshot: using agri-food technology to drive the green economy, create jobs, ensure Canada’s global leadership and deliver a carbon neutral food system

• Paul Kelly will present an update on U of G’s Honey Bee Research Centre, speak to the health challenges honeybees face and how the centre’s research is addressing them

• Dr. Andreas Boecker of the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics will discuss how food systems respond to demographic and climate change, and how research plays a central role in responding to these changes by adopting new technologies and changing management practices

• Food science PhD student Louis Colaruotolo will present a talk on designing and building longer-lasting food, exploring the tools scientists are using to gauge shelf life

This 2023 fair takes place Nov. 3-12 at Exhibition Place in Toronto.

Source:  University of Guelph November 1, 2023 news release