Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tours Olds College

Published 8:30 am Monday, June 29, 2026

By Sean McIntosh

Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald was in Central Alberta recently, touring Olds College of Agriculture and Technology.

Joining MacDonald for the tour at the post-secondary institution were Deputy Minister Lawrence Hanson and regional representatives from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on Thursday, June 25.

“Innovation on the ground is what drives Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector forward. Seeing firsthand how Olds College integrates cutting-edge technology with practical education reinforces the vital role post-secondary institutions play in securing our national food supply and driving economic growth,” said MacDonald.

The tour showcased the Olds College Smart Farm, the Werklund Agriculture and Technology Centre, and the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production feedlots.

Since 2018, the Olds College Smart Farm has collaborated with nearly 500 agricultural companies to accelerate product development for farming and ranching communities. Today, industry collaboration accounts for 41 per cent of the College’s applied research revenues.

The federal government recently launched the National Food Strategy, with the objectives of driving productivity and innovation in agriculture and lowering food prices for Canadians.

“We were honoured to welcome Minister MacDonald to Olds College and show him the amazing work happening on the Olds College Smart Farm,” said Todd Ormann, vice-president of external relations and research at Olds College.

“While the National Food Strategy sets a bold vision for the future, Olds College’s scientists, researchers and support staff are actively tackling the everyday realities and challenges of Canada’s agricultural innovation ecosystem.”

The visit also highlighted the growing need for funding to advance research at Canadian institutions, Olds College detailed in a media release.

“According to a recent RBC Thought Leadership report on Canadian agriculture, The Next Generation of Growth, public investment in agricultural research and development has declined by 15 per cent since 2010. Furthermore, private sector research and development outsourced to universities has plummeted by 77 per cent over the past five years, and the number of enterprises conducting research and development has shrunk by 29 per cent over the past decade,” stated Olds College.