Ontario Agriculture and Food Engineering Research and Services Committee
2005 Executive Summary

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• OAFERSC 2005 Report Summary - Printable PDF version

Executive Summary

Listed below are the main research and service needs identified in the engineering discipline.

Crops Engineering

The emerging Bio-based sector offers new markets and value added opportunities that can revitalize farming and the rural community.

Research is needed in the following areas:

• Bio-products from the farm – i.e. bio- fibre/fabric/fuels/energy/plastic
• Energy Conservation / Efficiency and Alternative Power Systems For Rural Ontario
• To create a bench mark of rural electrical power quality

• Requirements for interconnections to the power grid – process, equipment, billing agreements
• On-farm energy conservation or efficiency
• Application of solid and liquid manure/nutrients or biosolids – application rates, odour control and equipment design
• Interpretation of combine yield maps in terms of subsequent crop nutrient management.
• Application of GPS-guided application technology and GIS mapping for spatially-variable input rates needs to be developed.

• Crop drying and storage
• Treatment of manure in storage/collection with respect to odours, pathogens, and nutrients.
• Basic and applied information is required to deal with no till and nutrient management issues.
• To provide information that can be used if off-road emission standards are implemented in Ontario.

Service priority areas:

• Pest control
• Technology transfer

Rural Environment Engineering

Air and water quality (more specifically groundwater quality) and water quantity are the major issues to be addressed within the rural environment area. Increased pressure from the public and other government agencies is pushing the agricultural sector to continue to increase activity in these areas from a research and technology transfer standpoint.

The priority recommendations for research and services are as follows:

Research

• Determine the effect of tile drainage on regional or source area hydrology and groundwater recharge. Improve the modelling of tile drainage (quantity and quality) in Ontario including modelling of currently unknown processes which occur during freeze/thaw conditions (winter, spring). (R&D)
• Determine impacts (economic & environmental) of open ditch drain enclosures under various common agricultural scenarios in Ontario. Use results of studies in Source Protection Planning exercises. (R&D)
• Develop methodology for site specific confirmation of buffer width requirements (or to be used as a tool for risk assessment on the adequacy of existing buffers). Identify barriers to using this methodology at a field scale across Ontario. Identify solutions to barriers described above. Integrate methodology into Environmental Farm Planning process, Nutrient Management Plans and Source Water Protection.
• Calculate consumptive use coefficients for various agricultural sectors. Use coefficients in water budgets, water allocation programs and Low Water Response.
• Develop cost effective tools/methods to identify the sources of microbes and pathogens. Use the tools/methods in agricultural watersheds to identify sources of microbiological and pathogen related water contamination, put into perspective the various contributors, and their relative contribution to the situational problem.
• Develop and test manure and wastewater treatment technologies which may incorporate off farm wastes that are economically feasible for use on livestock farms. Study the impact of treatment technologies on pathogen survival.
• Develop improved systems for applying manure to sensitive areas such as two year capture zones, shallow topsoil over bedrock and areas where macro pores may provide preferential flow (e.g. no-till hay, pasture land). Effectiveness, accuracy and environmentally safe practices will be priorities.
• Develop diagnostic tools and procedures to allow farmers to rapidly detect the presence of contaminants in tile water before a spill or significant impact occurs.

Services

• Produce up to date information resources about the cost benefits and positive impacts of water table management (controlled drainage). Develop maps of suitable areas in province where controlled drainage could be implemented.
• Build an odour database for land-applied materials: non-agricultural source material (NASM) and agricultural source material (ASM).

Food Engineering

The need to be competitive in the world marketplace remains the number one challenge facing the food manufacturing sector in Ontario. In reviewing the actions that would benefit Ontario food processors, the Food Engineering Subcommittee has decided to place the highest priority on the following research and service recommendations.

Research

• Advanced and novel food processes for better productivity, quality and safety of food.
• Energy and water conservation and energy and water efficient technologies
• Sensors, image processing and automation for higher productivity, safety and quality
• Process development for new products for small processors.
• Food design, organic foods, and health food products
• By-product utilization and waste management.

Services

• Program and policies for energy and water conservation and energy and water efficient technologies
• Education, training of work force and Extension
• Streamlined and harmonized food inspection regulations at all three levels of government (federal, provincial and municipal).
• Setting up water quality standards for different products (beer, wine, meats, etc.) and standardizing odour measurement methods.
• Regulations for reusable containers in the meat industry.
• Support for HACCP implementation and subsidization for small processors to upgrade the processing equipment.

Livestock Engineering

Research and Service

• Work is needed to identify the major cause of facilities and storage fires and methods must be developed to stop this from occurring.
• The long term durability and safety of electrical equipment used in livestock facilities needs to be investigated.
• Proper selection of safety equipment and layout design for agricultural uses.
• Require increased odour control research for both inside barn air quality as well as around the buildings
• Unbiased evaluations of technology solutions to odour, manure and dead animal issues: composting, anaerobic digestion, chemical treatments, etc.

For a complete copy of the report go to : http://www.uoguelph.ca/research/omafra/forms/oascc.shtml

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