Advancing agriculture, agribusiness and tourism

Applied Research that is accessible, simple and efficient

We offer research and development that adds value to your organization through access to funding, faculty expertise, research facilities, and student work opportunities.

What is advancing agriculture, agri-business and tourism?

In alignment with the field-to-fork concept at the Centre for Food (CFF), these research projects deal with sustainable food products and support the agri-business and tourism industry.

Research infrastructure for advancing agriculture, agri-business and tourism

The Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE) also has significant research infrastructure and most recently added the following:

• Integrated Pest Management Solutions

  One of Ontario’s leading agricultural producers, Durham Region boasts the largest area of farmland in the Greater Toronto Area.  Integrated pest management (IPM) initiatives help the farming industry in terms of the development of plans that consider alternatives that pose fewer risks, including natural predators, pest-resistant plants, and non-chemical pesticides.

• Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for precision agriculture

  Woodleigh Farms Ltd. required bridging software (middleware) that would integrate farm software with the drones to gain a competitive edge in crop scouting.

• Growth Chambers

  Durham Region boasts the largest area of farmland in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and is one of Ontario’s leading agricultural producers. In order to promote research in this growing sector, two new growth chambers were installed in spring 2015 at Durham College’s (DC) Centre for Food (CFF), located at its Whitby campus.

  • DC receives $400,000 NSERC Applied Research Funding
  • Applied Research capacity gets a boost from NSERC grants
     
• Brew Line

  Craft beer, a growing sector of the brewing industry, is often distinguished by breweries that push boundaries with innovative flavours and styles. To help local craft breweries, a brew line with brew lab capabilities was installed at Durham College’s (DC) Whitby campus in the fall of 2015.

  • DC and Siebel Institute Technology bring famed brewing courses to Ontario
  • Applied Research capacity gets a boost from NSERC grants

How is Durham College supporting the agricultural community?

The CFF, located at the Whitby campus, is shaping the future of local food and farming industries to help maintain Ontario’s strong agricultural tradition. It features state-of-the-art microbiology and chemistry labs, an apple orchard, a 1,700-square-foot greenhouse and hoop house, two acres for production and applied research, a walk-in growth chamber, a reach-in growth chamber and a craft beer brew line.  DC is also developing a 30-acre research site for field trials. Faculty research includes plant pathology and integrated pest management, primarily with horticulture crops; mechanical electronics (robotics); and information technology.

Other successful projects for Advancing Agriculture, Agri-business and Tourism:

• Spinach Harvester – Durham Foods Limited
• Development of GAP-APP – Durham Foods
• Making a business idea bear fruit – Delice Foods