HIGH ON THE LIST
BY BRADEN MALSBURY • PHOTO COURTESY OF OLDS COLLEGE
Though the recent departure of the Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) has affected its rating, Olds College of Agriculture and Technology remains highly ranked in Canada’s top 50 research colleges, according to Research Infosource Inc. In December 2024, the research, consulting and publishing firm placed the institution at No. 14.
“We’re honoured to be recognized as one of the best research colleges in the nation,” said Todd Ormann, Olds College interim vice-president of development and research. “Our applied research continues to strengthen the agriculture and ag tech industries in Canada.”
The College’s main areas of research are crop production, environmental stewardship and livestock production as well as smart agriculture technology and practices. The institution works with academic professionals, industry partners and government to support applied research and innovation as well as commercialization and entrepreneurship.
Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI) focuses on applied research with results that can be easily implemented. This work is supported by the Olds College Smart Farm, where new products, technologies and practices are demonstrated, validated and scaled up. The Farm averages between 80 and 100 active projects with both 2023 and 2024 hitting 98. This work includes public research as well as private projects conducted in support of agriculture businesses.
To facilitate its learning programs and research initiatives, the institution has assembled a wide array of infrastructure. The Olds College Smart Farm features more than 3,000 acres of crop and forage production, and students and staff have access to state-of-the-art equipment and technology. Located at the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production, its livestock production program maintains a cattle feedlot with 1,000-head capacity, commercial cow/calf herd, purebred Red Angus herd and a sheep flock.
Included in its considerable research infrastructure, the Smart Farm also offers access to greenhouses, labs, incubator space, the Olds College Brewery, the National Meat Training Centre and more.
“We remain committed to building the foundation that helps address real world challenges with farming, food and land,” said Ormann. “We’re excited to contribute to the growth of Canada’s agricultural industry in a sustainable way.”
Olds College was ranked fourth in Canada in 2023 but Ormann said it’s no surprise the transfer of FCDC to a stand-alone operating unit affected the College’s ranking. With its new status, FCDC was renamed Western Crop
Innovations.
“Over five years, we were extremely proud of the valuable work done at the Centre,” said Ormann. “Despite these changes, we are excited about what is next when it comes to applied research activities at Olds College as we look to unearth new potential across Canada’s agriculture industry.”
He also noted the institutions ranked higher than Olds College are multi-industry focused and have significantly larger student bodies. “Our focus is strictly agriculture related. We punch way above our weight as an institution.”
With its major focus on horticulture and environmental sciences, Niagara College at Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, topped the latest research college ranking, while Lambton College in Sarnia, ON, took second spot. Edmonton’s NAIT rounded out the top three.
To learn more about the Canadian research college rankings, visit researchinfosource.com.
Braden Malsbury is the OCCI communications advisor, applied research.
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