Highlights of Research and Innovation Projects

OMAFRA-Funded Research Working for You

Did you know that eggs could help you fight osteoporosis? That animal manure could be used to generate electricity? These are just two examples of how OMAFRA funded research is working for you.

The research is grouped by the following subjects:

• Agriculture - projects about agriculture production
• Bioeconomy - renewable energy and bioproducts
• Human health - disease prevention and nutrition

Agriculture:

Feeding helpful bacteria boosts chicken immunity

Probiotics are helpful bacteria that can boost immune systems and fight bacteria that cause illness. Dr. Shayan Sharif, a University of Guelph professor, is part of a team of researchers who are studying the use of priobiotics to improve the health of chickens. The improved health of chickens can also have an impact on human health. More

Researchers develop new device to quickly identify scrapie disease in sheep

Scrapie, fatal disease of sheep, is usually detected by looking at the brain tissue from an affected, dead animal. Proteins called "prions" are believed to be the cause of Scrapie. Professors Gordon Hayward and Warren Stiver from the University of Guelph have made a device which can detect these prions in live animals. More

Sugar beets that can't be beat

There are about 10,000 acres of sugar beets in Ontario today. Storage problems can result in a loss of quality, lower sugar recovery and increased processing costs. Dr. John Zandstra, of the University of Guelph, is studying ways to improve harvesting methods and the storage life of sugar beets. More

Bioeconomy:

Putting livestock waste to work - biogas

Ron Fleming, of the University's Ridgetown campus, is studying how to produce biogas from livestock waste. The manure is put into an air-tight tank without oxygen. Bacteria in the tank break down the organic matter in the manure and produce methane, a type of biogas. Methane can be used as a fuel or used to power a generator for electricity. More

Living biofilter air-cleaning ecosystem for buildings

"Biofiltration is a novel way to improve the quality of indoor air. A biofilm, made up of living plants and beneficial microbes, is used to degrade pollutants and produce oxygen. This process is energy efficient. More

Turning vehicles green with bioplastics

Every car on the road contains more than 200 kilograms of plastic. But it's typically made with raw materials and energy from petroleum or natural gas, and it's not biodegradable. Four universities are working together to make biodegradable plastics from agricultural materials. More

Human Health:

Potential preventive tool for hospital acquired infection

Hospital acquired infections (HAI) affect more than 2 million people yearly, causing 88,000 deaths around the world. Plantigen Inc., in partnership with OMAFRA, is developing a new system to produce antibodies to prevent and treat these infections. More

Eggs to Fight Osteoporosis

Egg yolks contain a protein which helps calcium to be absorbed by the digestive tract. Dr. Yoshine Mine, a University of Guelph researcher, found a way to extract this protein from the yolks. This protein may help prevent osteoporosis in people. More

New research puts functional soy component right in the breadbasket

Soy has a high level of isoflavones which are compounds that help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancers. Alison Duncan, a University of Guelph professor and a team of researchers are working to add isoflavones into everyday staple foods. More