As global food systems face mounting pressure from climate change, geopolitical instability and supply chain disruption, the ability to attract, train and retain world-class agri-food talent has never been more critical to Canada's economic resilience and food security.
To help address this challenge, Arrell Food Institute (AFI) at the University of Guelph has partnered with Talent Innovation Canada (TICAN), a national, not-for-profit organization that embeds top graduate talent in high-growth firms to accelerate breakthrough technologies, expand intellectual property and enhance global competitiveness.
Through this partnership, TICAN will pair exceptional U of G graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with leading Canadian agri-food companies to work on real-world industrial challenges and develop breakthrough technologies. Projects will be supported by funding packages of up to $80,000 for master's students over an eight-month placement, and up to $160,000 for doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars over 16 months.
Graduate student and postdoctoral scholar applications for the inaugural 2026-27 cohort with AFI are open until June 26, 2026. Interested applicants can find more information and application instructions on the AFI website.
Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector contributes nearly $144 billion to Canada's GDP and supports approximately 2.3 million jobs. By connecting emerging talent with industry needs, the partnership will strengthen Canada's capacity to innovate, commercialize and build a more resilient food system.
"By connecting top graduate researchers with Canada's innovative firms, TICAN transforms industrial challenges into opportunities," said Dr. Arvind Gupta, CEO of TICAN. "This partnership with AFI will enhance food security, all while increasing innovation in Canada and growing our economy."
Building on AFI's leadership in Sustainable Food Systems for Canada (SF4C), the national agri-food innovation and entrepreneurship training platform, TICAN support will provide participants with paid industry research placements while embedding them in SF4C's established mentorship, training and innovation ecosystem. This unique combination provides an unparalleled opportunity to develop the skills, networks and experience needed to drive agri-food innovation in Canada.
"The University of Guelph has long been known as Canada's food university, and this partnership is a powerful expression of that mission," said Dr. Rene Van Acker, U of G president and vice-chancellor. "The Arrell Food Institute's leadership in connecting research excellence with real-world impact is exactly what Canada needs right now. By connecting emerging researchers with industry partners and providing leadership development alongside research experience, this initiative will help prepare the next generation of innovators to lead Canada's agri-food sector."
Founding industry partners represent a broad cross-section of Canada's agri-food innovation ecosystem, from precision genetics and regenerative agriculture to clean-label ingredients, sustainable protein production and controlled-environment agriculture.
Among these partners is Maia Farms, an award-winning Canadian food technology company that develops sustainable, nutrient-rich mycelium-based ingredients for food manufacturers.
"Maia Farms is a Canadian success story that began with a mission to feed astronauts in deep space and has grown into a leader in developing nutritious, delicious and sustainable food ingredients," says CEO and co-founder Gavin Schneider. "We're delighted to work with TICAN and Arrell Food institute to bring our industry's needs and high-quality talent together to help create a more vibrant and innovative Canadian food and agriculture sector."
About Talent Innovation Canada
Talent Innovation Canada (TICAN) is a national, not-for-profit organization that strengthens Canada's innovation economy by embedding top graduate talent in high-growth firms accelerating breakthrough technologies, expanding intellectual property, and enhancing global competitiveness. Learn more at talentinnovationcanada.ca.
About SF4C Sustainable Food Systems for Canada
SF4C is a national innovation and entrepreneurship training platform, supported by NSERC, designed to close Canada's agri-food productivity gap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more at sf4c.ca.
