Lakeland College and Portage College have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand collaboration in applied agricultural research, strengthen regional capacity and create new opportunities for students and industry.

The agreement celebrates a shared commitment to pursue research projects of mutual interest within the agricultural sector, leveraging each institution’s unique assets and expertise to benefit producers across the region and Western Canadian agriculture more broadly.

Through the MOU, Lakeland and Portage will explore opportunities to collaborate on crop production research, access complementary facilities – including Portage College’s greenhouses and Lakeland’s field research sites – and jointly pursue project funding. By combining resources and knowledge, the partnership can improve practical, industry-driven solutions to boost productivity, efficiency and sustainability in agriculture.

“This MOU represents an exciting step forward in strengthening applied agricultural research capacity in our region,” says Dr. Francois Paradis, dean of Applied Research at Lakeland College. “By bringing together Portage College’s expertise in genetics and genomics with Lakeland’s strengths in agronomy and agricultural technology, we can accelerate innovation and deliver meaningful outcomes for producers. Just as importantly, this collaboration opens the door for enhanced, hands-on learning opportunities for our students in applied research environments.”

This partnership will further provide openings for students at both institutions to engage in applied research, building skills that support career readiness, and contribute to innovation in the sector.

“This agreement reflects Portage College’s commitment to building strong, collaborative applied research partnerships that directly serve our region,” says Cristina Holguin, the director of Applied Research at Portage College. "Partnering with Lakeland College and utilizing our shared expertise and facilities, we are providing valuable learning opportunities for our students as we address challenges facing producers across our region and beyond."

 

Photos: Lakeland College’s recent crop plot trials showcase the college’s ongoing commitment to applied agricultural research that delivers practical outcomes for producers. The research complements work underway at Portage College led by research chair Dr. Mohammed Mira, who is exploring crop resiliency under combined heat and drought stress conditions to help address emerging challenges in agriculture.