Highly Qualified Personnel (HQP) scholarship recipients are forward-thinking future leaders in the agri-food and rural sectors.
The HQP program, jointly funded by Food from Thought and the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, supports the development of highly skilled graduates to become future researchers, policy-makers, business leaders and innovators who can meet the changing demands of the agri-food industry.
What impact does the HQP program have on scholars and their future careers? Hear directly from some of the HQP program scholars in the videos and testimonials below to learn about what they’re studying; what motivates them; and what impact their research is poised to make.
Degree: PhD
Project: Antecedents and outcomes of organic food consumers’ experience with Ontario online food retailing
Department: School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management (HFTM) (Lang)
“By doing more research on organic food customer behaviour, we can help farmers and food manufacturers with new ways of marketing and helping society by decreasing environmental hazards.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Project: Effect of best management practices (BMPs) on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in an Ontario grain production system
Department: School of Environmental Sciences (SES) (OAC)
“This research will play a role in informing management recommendations for farmers across Ontario, as well as contribute to lowering nitrous oxide emissions while improving yields.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Project: The Peaks and Valleys of Connection: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Smart Village Policies in the EU
Department: School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) (OAC)
“My research comprises a mixed method study of Smart Village policies developed in the European Union and the United Kingdom and their impacts on sustainable and digital development in rural areas.”
Degree: PhD
Project: Investigations on the impact of maternal and perinatal dietary supplementation with enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast cell wall on immunocompetence in piglets until market
Department: Department of Animal Biosciences (OAC)
“This area is very impactful since it can be applied to other species and can be applied to industry.”
Degree: PhD
Project: Development of mRNA vaccines for avian influenza and Marek’s disease viruses in chickens
Department: Department of Pathobiology (OVC)
“My research is mainly focused on finding ways to control zoonotic viruses such as avian influenza in bird/animal populations and inhibit their transmission to the human population.”
Degree: PhD
Project: Resistance to bacterial brown spot in adzuki bean
Department: Department of Plant Agriculture (OAC)
“The most challenging aspect of my research is the very limited information available from previous studies. Overcoming this challenge involves being creative by testing several hypotheses for anticipated outcomes.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Project: Applying Wearable Sensors & Machine Learning to Improve Dairy Cow Health & Production
Department: Department of Animal Biosciences (OAC)
“Growing up on a small dairy and beef farm has led me to pursue my professional career in the agri-food sector, focusing on livestock.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Project: The use of pecking blocks to enhance foraging enrichment and improve feather condition in enriched colonies
Department: Department of Animal Biosciences (OAC)
“I believe our world for animals is imperfect, and the goal of striving to better the lives of animals inspires me.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Project: Evaluation of spore traps to improve disease forecasting in the Holland Marsh
Department: Department of Plant Agriculture (OAC)
“The implications of my project are that fungicide use can be reduced and timed more accurately to reduce disease incidence through disease forecasting, which improves yield, decreases costs of production and is environmentally favourable.”
Degree: PhD
Project: Pro-inflammatory particulates in barn air as a risk factor for bovine respiratory disease: understanding mechanisms for improved disease prevention.
Department: Department of Pathobiology (OVC)
“As a veterinarian, I was passionate about being responsible for animals’ well-being. This huge desire drove me to pursue my degree at a Ph.D. level to fulfill my dream.“
Degree: M.Sc.
Project: Effect of Light Spectrum and Intensity on Female Turkey Breeder Performance
Department: Department of Animal Biosciences (OAC)
“I am excited for the opportunity to work toward better understanding turkey physiology, and by extension, their environmental needs.”
Degree: M.A.Sc.
Project: Production of Protein-Rich Snacks using Second Grade/Culled Peaches
Department: School of Engineering (SOE) (CEPS)
“My research involves creating snacks from second-grade fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be wasted.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Program: Evaluation of the Efficacy of Colostrum as a Treatment for Diarrhea in Neonatal Dairy Calves
Department: Department of Population Medicine (OVC)
“Growing up on a horticulture farm and working on a dairy farm and alongside large animal veterinarians, I have developed a lifelong passion for agriculture.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Program: Physiological Analysis of Lodging and Yield Response to Plant Growth Regulators in Winter Wheat
Department: Department of Plant Agriculture (OAC)
“My project focuses on Plant Growth Regulators in winter wheat; something that hasn’t been studied much in Ontario and is particularly relevant after the heavy lodging events seen in the 2021 growing season.”
Degree: PhD
Program: Low-cost and scalable water disinfection technology development for livestock farm stormwater treatment and irrigation re-use
Department: School of Engineering (SOE) (CEPS)
“My research consists in working on a new filtering possibility for stormwater treatment, so it can be used for irrigation and livestock purposes.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Project: A spatio-temporal model for the spread of fire blight in Ontario apple orchards, an investigation into profit-maximizing control strategies.
Department: Department of Mathematics and Statistics (CEPS)
“I want to work with growers, horticulturists, and entomologists to provide a better understanding of how these complex diseases work. This collaboration with multiple fields of study and occupations is something I find very exciting.”
Degree: PhD
Project: Comparing Tractor Tires and Tracks for Their Effects on Compaction of Agricultural Soils using X-ray Computed Tomography
Department: School of Environmental Sciences (SES) (OAC)
“Based on my extensive background in agriculture, the project became fascinating as soil structural stability determines agricultural productivity because it affects the distribution and storage of water, air, nutrients, and biological activities necessary for crop growth and development.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Project: Understanding the genes and metabolic pathways associated with the resistance of sheep to gastrointestinal nematodes and its climate change effects
Department: Department of Animal Biosciences (OAC)
“I am excited about the many different applications that this research will have. Improving the parasite resistance of sheep will have benefits for producers, consumers, and the sheep themselves.”
Degree: PhD
Project: Assessing the influence of Functional and Structural Complexity of Organic Matter on Phosphorus Mobility, Crop Production, and Soil Health
Department: School of Environmental Sciences (SES) (OAC)
“I have a desire to find sustainable solutions to the problem of food production and distribution around the world. According to Maria -Helena Semedo of the FAO, the world will run out of topsoil by the year 2080 due to soil degradation.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Project: Control of Salmonella and Campylobacter in Poultry Production and Processing through the Application of Novel Technologies
Department: Department of Food Science (OAC)
“There are constant advances in concepts and technology in food microbiology and I wanted to explore their place in food microbiology and how they can help in maintaining the integrity of our agri-food sector and consumer safety.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Project: Effectiveness of Various Cover Crops to Access Phosphorus From Struvite Fertilizer and the Effect on Subsequent Crop’s
Department: Department of Plant Agriculture (OAC)
“I am excited about how my research can be directly applied to a farmers’ management plan. It has a very practical purpose as both a cost analysis, but also a looking at environmental benefits of various cover crops.”
Degree: PhD
Project: Identifying the major on-farm factors associated with elevated free fatty acids (FFAs) in dairy cows’ milk
Department: Department of Population Medicine (OVC)
“I hope that my research can help to improve consumer satisfaction and the quality of dairy products by identifying ways that producers can reduce free fatty acid levels on the farm.”
Degree: M.A.Sc.
Project: Home compostable alternatives to single-use packaging from bacterial bioplastics and their biocomposites
Department: School of Engineering (SOE) (CEPS)
“One of the biggest things that drew me towards pursuing an engineering degree for my undergrad was the idea of using that knowledge to solve some of the world’s problems. As I worked my way through my degree, I noticed how serious the global plastic waste crisis has become and decided that would be a good problem to try to tackle! “
Degree: PhD
Project: Impact of seasonality on nutrient transport and groundwater-surface water interactions under temperate climate conditions in an agriculturally-intense Great Lakes clay plain basin
Department: School of Engineering (SOE) (CEPS)
“I hope to use the skills I have gained from working in the industry to a project that I am passionate about, and excited for the chance to integrate industry connections to the project such as incorporating unique datasets and expertise.”
Degree: PhD
Project: Survivability and persistence of Salmonella strains and serovars in low moisture foods and their control mechanisms
Department: Department of Food Science (OAC)
“It has long been my desire to be part of this scientific community who proactively seek food safety solutions to ensure global sustainability and nutrition security.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Project: Role of soil health in determining phosphorus fertility recommendations in Ontario soils
Department: Department of Plant Agriculture, OAC
“The contribution I can make to make the environment safe and sustainable motivates me.”
Degree: M.A.Sc.
Primary Faculty Advisor: Andrew Binns
Project: Climate Change Effects on Nutrient Dynamics in the Hydrosystem of a Great Lakes Clay Plain Setting
Department: School of Engineering, CEPS
“The HQP scholarship has enriched my experience in my academic journey in a number of ways! Through this program, I’ve also been able to enrich a lot of my soft skills, like teamwork, project management, communication, and building my academic profile.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Primary Faculty Advisor: Trevor DeVries
Project: Supplementing Glycerol to Transition Dairy Cows to Improve Metabolic Status, Health and Productivity
Department: Department of Animal Biosciences, OAC
“I am really passionate about calf health and welfare, so getting to conduct research in this area to increase what we know, and that may be used to support the implementation of improved practices is really exciting to me!”
Degree: M.Sc.
Primary Faculty Advisor: Ian Tetlow
Project: Investigating Protein Complexes Associated with Starch Synthesis in Cereals: A Proteomic Approach using Blue-Native PAGE
Department: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, CBS
“The HQP scholarship has given me the opportunity to participate in an industry-partnered project and gain experience solving problems that have the potential to have a direct impact on policy.”
Degree: PhD
Primary Faculty Advisor: Amar Mohanty
Project: Development of Biopolymeric Composites made with Ontario Biomass for Engineering Multi-Layer Cast Film in Packaging Applications
Department: Department of Plant Agriculture, OAC
“HQP course has given an opportunity to learn more about the Canadian Agriculture system and provided an insight into the importance of Food and Agriculture Government /NGO organizations.”
Degree: PhD
Primary Faculty Advisor: Jeff Caswell
Project: Role of Abnormally Regulated Inflammatory Responses in Development of Bovine Respiratory Disease
Department: Department of Pathobiology, OVC
“The HQP scholarship provided me with the opportunity to attend the course on agricultural innovation. This course helped me to become familiar with current challenges and opinions around climate change and the future of food systems.”
Degree: PhD
Primary Faculty Advisor: John Cant
Project: Estimating Energy Balance and Providing Individualized Nutrient Supplementation to Dairy Cattle Using Automated Technology
Department: Department of Animal Biosciences, OAC
“My research aims to provide individualized nutrition programs for each dairy cow, which is vastly different from the herd feeding systems currently used.”
Degree: PhD
Primary Faculty Advisor: Istvan Rajcan
Project: Genomic Analysis of Sclerotinia Stem Rot (caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) Resistance in Canadian Soybean Germplasm
Department: Department of Plant Agriculture, OAC
“Plant breeding and genetics research are both very applied and have an artistic twist to them, which I enjoy. At its core, my research area seeks to create an improved version of a crop in response to a set of presented challenges.”
Degree: PhD
Primary Faculty Advisor: James Longstaffe
Project: Impacts of Organic and Inorganic Amendments on Chemical Behavior of Phosphorus in a Complex Soil System
Department: School of Environmental Sciences, OAC
“The course has opened my eye to the wide gap that exists between agricultural research and efficient knowledge mobilization.”
Degree: M. Sc.
Primary Faculty Advisor: Simon Somogyi
Project: Plastic Makes Perfect: A Value Chain Analysis of Single-Use Plastics in the Agri-Food Sector
Department: School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management, Lang
“I began studying hospitality because I was passionate about food and travel but along the way, I found a lot of purpose in trying to improve the way things currently operate. I chose to pursue a Masters in the field because I wanted to learn how to improve environmental practices in the industry.”
Degree: M. Sc.
Primary Faculty Advisor: Alan Ker
Project: Business Risk Management Policy, Yield Resiliency and On-Farm Climate Change Adaptation Efforts
Department: Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, OAC
“My research excites me because it involves interdisciplinary thinking. Specialization is undeniably valuable, but equally so is the ability to step back and see the ‘big picture’ of how everything’s connected.”
Degree: PhD
Primary Faculty Advisor: Emily Yi Wai Chiang
Project: GCarbon-sequestering Technology for Offsetting Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reducing Fertilizer Requirements
Department: School of Engineering, CEPS
“This research aims to develop a novel fertilizer that can permanently sequester carbon from the atmosphere, offsetting human activity-related greenhouse gas emissions and improve soil health simultaneously. This will be the first research project of its kind in Ontario.”
Degree: M. Sc.
Primary Faculty Advisor: Jonathan LaMarre
Project: Improving Bovine Fertility by miRNA Biomarker Supplementation
Department: Department of Biomedical Sciences, OVC
“Fertility is such a complex, multi-faceted field with so many unknowns. Being able to solve some of the questions we have about fertility while improving the beef and cattle industries, excites me very much!”
Degree: M.Sc.
Primary Faculty Advisor: Wayne Caldwell
Department: Rural Planning and Development
“The HQP program is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with many stakeholders in agri-food to provide cutting-edge solutions to sustaining Ontario’s rapidly evolving agricultural industry.”
Degree: PhD
Primary Faculty Advisor: Kate Parizeau
Department: Geography, Environment, and Geomatics
“The HQP Program has been invaluable as I work towards my future career as a food waste consultant to support governments and businesses to reduce food waste in Canada’s agri-food system.”
Degree: MA (Management)
Primary Faculty Advisor: Simon Somogyi
Department: University of Guelph’s Lang School of Business and Economics
“I’ve always found food and agriculture to be central parts of my life story, and my research here is a natural extension to that by working with OMAFRA on value chain research.”
Degree: M.Sc.
Primary Faculty Advisor: Asim Biswas
Department: School of Environmental Sciences
“The HQP program has been very rewarding for me as it introduced me to the Canadian agri-food sector.”