OLDS — Olds College of Agriculture & Technology (OCAT) is ranked fourth overall in the country among Canada’s top 50 research colleges and in the top five in several categories, according to Research Infosource Inc.
In fact, OCAT was ranked second in one of those categories: college research intensity (dollar per researcher).
The continued growth of the Smart Agriculture Ecosystem and applied research activities on the Olds College Smart Farm launched the college into the top five this year.
OCAT was also listed in eighth place for college research income growth.
In the small tier college category, the college made the top 10 for research partnerships and paid student researchers and is ranked 11th for completed research projects.
OCAT vice-president of research Joy Agnew is pleased with those rankings.
“The expertise, infrastructure, and capacity available through the Olds College Centre for Innovation and the Olds College Smart Farm is helping grow Canada’s agriculture industry through industry-driven applied research,” she said in an OCAT news release issued Thursday.
“Our partners, clients, research teams, farm staff, faculty and students at the college have all played a key role in this tremendous achievement. Reaching the top five truly shows that our research activities at Olds College are strengthening the ag and ag tech industries in Canada.”
Research Infosource Inc. also featured a five-year college spotlight on industry research income from 2018 to 2022 which highlights Olds College’s continued research success.
Olds College ranked in the top five for industry research income and industry research income growth, as well as the top 10 for industry research income as percentage of total college research income.
The College’s primary research areas of focus include field crop production, livestock production, environmental stewardship in agriculture, barley variety development, smart agriculture technologies and practices, and agriculture data utilization.
The college collaborates with industry, academics and government to support applied research, innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship.
“It is a great honour to see Olds College of Agriculture & Technology recognized as number four of all research colleges in Canada,” OCAT president Ben Cecil said.
“We are extremely proud of the positive impacts our research activities, programming and work-integrated learning is having on Canada’s agriculture industry.
“The research we do at the College is immensely rewarding, and I would like to acknowledge the excellent work of our research teams in leading innovation within the global agriculture industry.
“I’m excited to be part of Olds College as we continue working towards our social purpose of transforming agriculture for a better world.”
The Smart Farm is at the heart of the Smart Agriculture ecosystem at the college and has grown to include 3,600 acres of farmland, infrastructure, and staff who are experienced in agricultural technology research and development.
“Olds College is committed to sharing the knowledge and learnings generated from research on the Smart Farm with people and organizations who will continue to spur the adoption of agriculture technologies which benefit producers, innovators and industry stakeholders,” the news release said.
