Olds College has been named one of the top 50 research colleges by Research Infosource Inc.
According to the release, Olds College is one of five Alberta schools on the national list and was also ranked in the top 10 of small-size colleges based on the number of research partnerships and completed research projects.
“We are pleased to be listed as one of the top research colleges in the country,” comments Dr. Joy Agnew, associate vice president, Applied Research, Olds College in a release.
“The Olds College Smart Ag Ecosystem is focused on accelerating the progress and innovation needed to grow Canada’s ag industry through applied research. The Olds College Centre for Innovation, together with our Smart Farm and Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production, continues to focus on practical, industry-driven applied research that is implementable by the agriculture industry.”
Olds College joins NAIT, SAIT, Lethbridge College and Bow Valley College on the annual national ranking list. According to Research Infosource Inc., Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges reported $270.9 million of sponsored research income in Fiscal 2020 in the form of research grants, contracts and contributions from third parties — an increase of 20.8 per cent over previous year.
“Fiscal 2020 was an outstanding year for college research,” said Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource. “An unprecedented number of institutions — 32 — reported triple or double-digit increases in their research income, which is reflected in the large overall total research colleges gain. It seems that college research was really on a roll in Fiscal 2020.”
Olds College’s primary research areas of focus include field crop production, livestock production, environmental stewardship, barley and triticale variety development, and smart agriculture technologies and practices.
The Olds College Smart Farm is at the heart of the Smart Ag Ecosystem at the college and has grown to include 2,800 acres of farmland, infrastructure, and staff who are experienced in agricultural technology research and development.