Livestock Research Innovation Corporation
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Change is a freight train

CEO commentary by Kelly Somerville

My predecessor, Mike McMorris, told me once that the status quo carries tremendous inertia. Change can be difficult—especially when we don’t control it—but in today’s livestock sector, driving the change we need is more critical than ever.

For years, agriculture has relied on public trust and positive perception to maintain our social license to produce food. But that foundation is shifting as society becomes further removed from farming. The reputations that once propped us up – established decades ago – are no longer enough to sustain us on the domestic or international stage.

Now is the time to challenge the status quo. In Ontario, we face looming elections, political uncertainty beyond our borders, and ever-evolving animal disease pressures. But rather than simply reacting to these forces, we must proactively shape our own future.

At LRIC, we believe that innovation isn’t just about new technologies—it’s about reimagining how we work together. It’s about being bold, fostering collaboration, and taking risks to drive the kind of change that keeps our industry competitive and resilient.

Change is a freight train. It’s coming, whether we like it or not. So rather than standing in its path, let’s be the ones laying the tracks.
 

Recent Articles

  • Making the Invisible Visible: Using Glo Germ to Study Livestock Biosecurity

    Researchers at the University of Guelph are investigating how Glo Germ can be used to model the spread of infectious agents in sheep and goats. This work aims to enhance understanding of on-farm contamination pathways and strengthen biosecurity practices across the livestock sector.

    Read More
  • Kelsey Spence

    Bridging the gap between research and farming

    Ontario Beef, October 2025: This fall marks the start of the fifth cohort of a unique mentorship program for early career scientists at the University of Guelph to introduce them to Ontario’s livestock industry. 

    Read More
  • Engineering a better farm: Livestock industry making connections with Waterloo’s engineering school

    September 2025:  Early this summer, University of Waterloo Engineering hosted the Future of Ag Tech Symposium, welcoming members of the livestock industry to its Waterloo campus to showcase its innovation and tech capacities. 

    Read More
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