Introduction

Table of Contents

1.0 General Context

2.0 Interpretation of this Document

3.0 Considerations for Strategic Plan

1.0 General Context

Under the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and University of Guelph (UofG) Agreement of 2008, OMAFRA determines research themes to be addressed through the Research Program and establish a priority setting process, including the identification of long-term strategic areas of research and critical success factors for each research theme. During the summers of 2007 and 2008, OMAFRA in collaboration with UofG and sector experts (Expert Panels) engaged in a process that resulted in the preparation of this research priorities document titled "OMAFRA Strategic Research Themes: Priorities for 2008-2012".

The Expert Panel processes of 2007 and 2008 focused on the following seven research themes: Agriculture and Rural Policy; Bioeconomy - Industrial Uses; Emergency Management; Evironmental Sustainability ; Food For Health; Product Development and Enhancement through Value Chains; and, Production Systems.

Expert Panel reports are used to inform all research related activities at OMAFRA. Therefore, the final recommendations from each Expert Panel are the foundation of the research prioirites outlined in this document. The ministry also received input concerning priorities from the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO), from policy and program staff at several levels within the ministry and from stakeholder organizations. Under the OMAFRA/UofG Agreement, it is expected that, UofG will use these research priorities to lead the development of a strategic plan to administer OMAFRA funded research programs (identifying capacity and program options).

2.0 Interpretation of this Document

The information in this document is organized in such a way as to provide at the outset of each thematic section the definition and context of the theme, as well its scope. Understanding the sections on priorities requires an understanding of the theme's background information. In some cases, the priorties within each theme are are outlined as general areas; in other cases, they are given as examples in a list which is not intended to be exhaustive. In all cases, it is understood that the research priorities within are flexible enough to be responsive to emerging issues, but specific enough to encourage a coordinated response to the ministry's information needs and provide practical support for policy and programs relating to the ministry's specific mandate.

3.0 Considerations for Strategic Plan

The following points should be considered when developing options to address the priorities identified in this document:

• Several common needs were identified under all research themes: the need for baseline data, statistical research and longitudinal studies; sector and trend analysis; foresight and scenario analysis; and, policy or regulatory program evaluation. OMAFRA considers these needs as research priorities.

• There are many opportunities for collaboration and multi-disciplinary approaches in research areas that span two or more themes. OMAFRA encourages program flexibility to address these cases.

• Policy related research (not limited to rural policy or agricultural policy) should focus on research that examines the actual impacts of existing/past policy initiatives or the potential impacts of policy actions under consideration.

• Some critical success factors noted in theme areas could be a foundational type of research (i.e. inventory/synthesis research) and should be equally researched where appropriate. OMAFRA also recognizes the evaluation of research as a beneficial activity under the program.

The ministry envisions the annual revisiting of theme prioirites as is required under the OMAFRA/UofG Agreement. This should be regarded as an ongoing process which will incorporate stakeholder input and serve to recomfirm the importance of current priorities, refocus energy toward emerging priorities, and reassess short or medium term direction research themes.