| |
|
|
|
 A new chapter in LRIC communications
You may have noticed things are looking a little different around here — welcome to LRIC’s updated newsletter format!
A big part of our mandate is connecting people from different sectors, commodities, and industries. Part of what we are hoping this newsletter refresh will do is help us better connect what LRIC is up to with all of you.
Instead of a monthly roundup of research highlights, we’re shifting to a quarterly update focused more closely on LRIC’s own activities, whether it’s our mentorship program, GRIP events, board insights, or projects we’re excited to share.
This change is about more than just how things look, it’s about sharing the “so what” behind our work, why it matters, how it connects to the bigger picture, and where you, as stakeholders and members, might find opportunities to get involved.
One message we keep hearing through GRIP and KTT forums is the need for the entire innovation system to invest in trusted, accessible, and consistent communication.
We’re acting on that feedback; this newsletter is one way we’re working to give you greater insight into the exciting things happening at LRIC and across the sector.
Thanks for being part of the LRIC community. We hope this new approach helps you stay informed and involved in the work ahead!
Kelly
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
What's the LRIC board up to?
LRIC’s board of directors reflects the diversity of its membership, with directors representing our founding member organizations, our partner members and the broader livestock industry.
Five of our 13 board members represent livestock industry sectors, three are appointed and three serve in an ex-officio capacity.
New directors
We are excited to welcome Neil Campbell from Turkey Farmers of Ontario and Joost van der Heiden from Beef Farmers of Ontario to our board. Neil is the new poultry director, taking over from Brian Miller, and Joost replaces Richard Horne from Beef Farmers of Ontario.
LRIC’s other board members include:
Don Gordon (Chair), Dairy Farmers of Ontario representative director
RJ Taylor (Vice Chair), Ontario Aquaculture Association partner organization director
Karen Sanders (Governance committee chair), Ontario Pork representative director
Ian Ross, Grand Valley Fortifiers, appointed director
Jim White, consultant, appointed director
Sonya Fiorini, Burnbrae Farms, appointed director
Mohamad Yaghi, FCC, appointed director
LRIC's board also includes ex-officio directors:
Doug Reddick, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness
Robert Matson, Dairy Farmers of Ontario
Reid Buchanan, Ontario Pork
Maria Leal, poultry representative
Barb Caswell, Beef Farmers of Ontario
Shayan Sharif, University of Guelph
In addition to the ongoing business of the organization, including special projects and committee work, the board is currently involved in governance training and a by-law review.
Back to top
|
|
|
Emerging Trends and Opportunities Committee (ETOC)
This 13-member committee works to identify emerging trends and opportunities that will impact the agriculture and agri-food sector in Ontario. It provides direction to the board around creating and increasing awareness of research and innovation needs in the livestock sector to meet future threats and opportunities.
Chair Ian Ross is joined on the committee by fellow LRIC directors Rene Van Acker and Jim White, as well as LRIC staff Kelly Somerville and Jean Howden. Additional committee members include Paul Uys, Ted Bilyea, Stacie Sopinka, Dave Vandenberg, Arnold Drung, Stuart McGregor, Al Mussell, and Mike Von Massow.
At their in-person meeting in May, the committee identified key concerns facing livestock innovation, including trade pressures, productivity gains, supply chain disruptions, and the need for stronger science communication.
This year, both ETOC and the International Research Advisory Committee (IRAC) will examine the growing influence of artificial intelligence. ETOC will focus on AI’s current and potential applications across the value chain and in primary production, while IRAC will assess its impact on the research system — both in terms of emerging priority areas and implications for how research is conducted.
Back to top
|
|
|
International Research Advisory Committee (IRAC)
This committee brings international perspectives, ideas, and practices to the Ontario livestock sector and examines how they could be adapted here or help prepare the sector for the future. Although the committee’s focus is broad, it pays particular attention to themes identified by the Emerging Trends and Opportunities Committee.
Jim White is the committee chair, supported by LRIC board members Don Gordon and RJ Taylor, and staff members Kelly Somerville and Jean Howden. Non-board members Brian Lindsay, Paul Dick, Stephen Miller, Dawn Howard and David Roberts round out the committee.
The committee’s most recent report with recommendations was released in fall 2024.
Over the next year, IRAC will be advancing several key recommendations from its report that closely align with LRIC’s mandate.
This includes examining international institutions and programs recognized for excellence in cross-disciplinary research and Getting Research into Practice/Knowledge Translation and Transfer (GRIP/KTT), exploring models that reduce administrative burden to let researchers focus more on science, and connecting with existing leadership initiatives, such as the Agricultural Adaptation Council’s 2050 project.
Back to top
|
|
|
Bridging the gap between research and practice: GRIP in action
It’s long been a leading priority of LRIC to help the livestock industry do more to implement research results on the farm.
The Getting Research into Practice (GRIP) grant is a collaborative initiative between the University of Guelph’s Food from Thought program and Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC). GRIP is all about making agricultural research more accessible, practical, and impactful — whether you're a student, researcher, producer, or industry professional.
Over the past year, LRIC has hosted events like "GRIP is a Team Sport,", a roundtable moderated by retired LRIC CEO Mike McMorris with voices from industry, government, and farming that emphasized trust and two-way communication in sharing research.
LRIC also ran a conference prep workshop in March for graduate students focused on clear communication, infographics, and audience-driven messaging. The key takeaway: know your audience and speak to them in their language.
Looking ahead, LRIC is planning a project management workshop as well as a symposium this fall or early winter that will be focused on turning research into real-world tools across different sectors of the livestock industry.
Whether it’s writing pop-sci articles, crafting research summaries, or exploring how artificial intelligence fits into farm communication, GRIP is all about connecting ideas with action.
Back to top
|
|
|
Connecting researchers and the farm: LRIC’s mentorship program for early career faculty
At the heart of successful innovation is collaboration — between researchers, industry, and the organizations that help bridge the gap. That’s why about five years ago, LRIC launched a mentorship program designed specifically for early career faculty at the University of Guelph.
The goal? To build strong, positive relationships between new faculty members and leaders in the livestock industry — early and effectively. By pairing researchers with experienced industry mentors, the program helps ensure that emerging research is aligned with real-world needs, encourages productive partnerships, and accelerates the transfer of technology and knowledge through the sector.
Participation includes six 3–4 hour sessions (with some prep reading and videos), 2–3 full days of on-farm learning with farmers and industry leaders, and networking with mentors and faculty from other colleges to build a strong cross-sector network.
Participants in the program also become eligible to apply for the LRIC Early Career Research Award, which allocates up to $100,000 per year to support research projects or programs that will foster and build knowledge and capacity in the Ontario livestock sector.
A new cohort will start in September; anyone interested in becoming a participant should contact Jean Howden.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for reading. We'd love to hear your feedback about LRIC - both about what we're doing and what you think we should be doing! Please contact us at info@livestockresearch.ca with any questions or comments.
|
|
|
The Livestock Research Innovation Corporation is funded in part by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a 5-year, federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
|
|
|
For more information
Visit our website
Email us
Follow us on LinkedIn
Call us: Kelly - 519 831 1719 or Jean - 519 767 8583
|
|
|
This email was sent to {{email}}
This email was sent by:
Livestock Research Innovation Corporation
7382 Wellington Rd 30 Unit B, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 6J2
livestockresearch.ca
view as web page | unsubscribe
|
|
