Founded as an agricultural research farm in 1911, Olds College is a significant proponent and participant in applied agricultural research activities that demonstrate benefits to the student, the taxpayers and the college; provide a solution to an industry challenge or problem; and, have the necessary infrastructure and personnel to successfully complete the project. The often private-sector sponsored research infrastructure at Olds College includes: a Composting Technology Centre; a Prairie Turfgrass Research Centre; the Bank of Montreal Landscape Pavilion; Research Greenhouses; a Swine Genetics Facility and Feed Mill as a joint venture with UGG (Unipork and Unifeed); a Multipurpose Livestock Pavilion for training and research in cattle and sheep artificial insemination techniques and embryo transfer; the first North American John Deere Training Centre and labs; a Ducks Unlimited Wetland Site; a Research and Demonstration Farm; and, a Tissue Culture Research and Production Laboratory.

Over the past 88 years, Olds College has contributed significantly to the field of environmental waste management and composting; land information systems; farm machinery, equipment technologies and applications; horticulture production; livestock production; precision farming and management modelling; and, agri-business management and technology applications.

Many research projects have addressed lingering problems in various industries. For example, Cargill Foods, Lakeside Farm Industries and XL Foods asked Olds College to study the management of waste in agri-food industries. The College also worked with several feedlots in Alberta to research and develop environmentally-sustainable manure management options. In conjunction with forestry partners, such as Alberta Newsprint Company, Crestbrook Forest Industries, Spray Lakes Sawmills and Sunpine Forest Products, college researchers developed commercial forest and pulp and paper residue management technologies. Scientists at Olds College are currently working with Chevron, PanCanadian Oil, Norcen Energy, Imperial Oil, HAZCO and Mancroft Resources/EBA to solve environmental pollution problems in the oil and gas industry by developing bioremediation and land reclamation technologies. This approach restores contaminated agricultural land to active production through an environmentally-sustainable and economically-feasible process.

The downsizing of federal agricultural research centres across Canada has left a vacuum in terms of functional and theoretical agricultural research. It has also led to increased interest in industry-sponsored applied research, a phenomenon which is creating more competition and opportunities for institutions like Olds College.

Although colleges are responsive by nature and are hiring more staff with research capabilities and experience, the lack of government support means that certain staffing and infrastructure challenges must be faced alone. For example, of the 70 faculty at Olds College, approximately 44 have graduate training with research experience at either the doctoral or masters level and many have the industry experience and connections required for applied research. However, teaching workloads in many colleges hinder the involvement of faculty and staff in research as it must often be conducted in addition to their regular work and many collective agreements do not recognize research as part of staff responsibilities. Numerous colleges also undercharge for their research services which results in a lack of project funds to finance faculty replacements or to develop the requisite research infrastructure.

Canada has a reputation as a world leader in the area of applied agricultural research and Canadian colleges are key contributors to this reputation. To elevate national awareness and attract future research support and funding to colleges, a national body with representatives from colleges, industry, community and the public sector must be established. By promoting and coordinating sectoral research in Canadian colleges, identifying funding sources, encouraging inter-collegiate research projects, providing a national database and forum for college researchers, and advocating to governments and agencies on matters relating to applied research, this body will help to unveil an otherwise hidden and underutilized Canadian research capacity.

Sample of Current Research Activity at Olds College