Olds College of Agriculture & Technology is getting a significant boost to support applied research in agriculture with an award of $516,723 from the College and Community Innovation program of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).
“We are thrilled to receive this funding from the federal government to help further advance our applied research activities at Olds College,” said David Fullerton, Director of Applied Research at OCCI. “To receive financial support like this is key for us to continue with several important research projects within our multiple areas of focus at Olds College Centre for Innovation.”
From this funding, approximately $200,000 will help purchase a seeder for the Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI) crop research team, around $200,000 will go toward the expansion of smart agriculture research and over $115,000 will be allocated for the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP).
NSERC says this funding will enable colleges like Olds College to provide timely support for local research and innovation needs.
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“Whether it’s through discovery or applied research, these recipients have the potential to reveal unexpected findings and have a significant impact on our society and well-being,” said Prof. Alejandro Adem, FRSC, President, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
“Today’s announcement provides funding for the full gamut of research impact, from the earliest stages of discovery to the final stages of bringing innovations to communities. It also provides support to inspire students in their most formative years, and to spur our research leaders to even greater success. I applaud the dedication of all our discoverers and innovators in tackling the world’s toughest problems and their determination to find bold solutions.”
In December 2023, Olds College was ranked fourth in Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges according to Research Infosource Inc. Olds College was also the gold recipient of the 2024 Applied Research and Innovation Excellence Award from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) in April 2024.