A catalyst for adaptation, advancement and innovation within the agriculture and agri-food community.
NEWS RELEASES - 2007
Government-Industry-University
Partnership Brings Over $1 Million to Wheat Technology Research at the
University of Guelph
(Guelph, ON - October 29, 2007) A million-dollar research program to
drive innovation in uses for Ontario-grown wheat was announced today by the
University of Guelph and the Ontario Cereal Industry Research Council (OCIRC).
The research will be directed by the newly appointed Industrial Research Chair
in Cereal Technology, Dr. Koushik Seetharaman.
Funding partners, including the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) and OCIRC,
have worked together to create this position. Funding from the AAC came from the
CanAdvance Program, which is funded under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s
Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) Program, as well as from
the Canada-Ontario Research and Development (CORD) program, which is
administered by the AAC on behalf of the federal and provincial governments.
Dr. Seetharaman’s research program will contribute to expanded uses for
Ontario-grown wheat in world markets. A recognized researcher, Dr. Seetharaman
was selected for the position following an international search and began his
role in September, 2007.
"This newly endowed Research Chair represents a major impetus towards capacity
building of research expertise in Ontario’s expanding wheat industry,” noted
Bette Jean Crews, Chair of the AAC. “The collaboration of industry, the
University and the government to drive leading-edge research that is relevant to
the market and the consumer is an excellent model.”
The Council, through its funding programs, has provided a five-year series of
grants of more than $500,000 to fund the Professor’s salary and other elements
of the research program. The industry commitment to the research program, also
exceeding $500,000, was provided by the OCIRC, a coalition of seven companies
and one producer organization.
"The industry research chair is very important to the future of our sector,"
said Henry Olechowski, OCIRC president and director of research for Hyland
Seeds. "We are very excited to have a scientist of the world-class calibre of
Dr. Seetharaman with an outstanding track record of working with the cereal and
baking industry."
“Our shared goal,” stated Dr. Seetharaman, “is to establish at the University of
Guelph a centre of excellence for understanding and utilizing the functionality
of Ontario-grown wheat to contribute to Ontario’s agri-food economy. I will be
collaborating with colleagues in other disciplines, including those developing
the genetics of wheat, to optimize the opportunities for discovery as well as
interacting extensively with industry to respond to their research needs.”
The author of more than 40 journal articles, book chapters and manuscripts,
Seetharaman has presented more than 60 papers around the world and has served as
a reviewer or editor for the Journal of Food Science, Cereal Chemistry, and
Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, among others. He holds a PhD in food
science from Texas A&M University, a master's degree in food chemistry from
Cornell University, and a bachelor's degree from Gujarat Agricultural University
in India.
For further information please contact:
James Farrar, Secretary-Treasurer
The Ontario Cereal Industry Research Council
(905) 945-6791
Email: james@jayeffpartners.ca
