We are excited to announce the conclusion of the latest cohort of UNIV*6050: Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Agri-food Systems.
UNIV*6050 is a graduate-level course open to students working on a topic related to fostering sustainable and resilient food systems. Through this course, students gain hands-on experience working with NGOs, government agencies, businesses, and other agri-food partners, while building skills in business development, project management, social innovation, and communication. With our agri-food sector set to face a number of wicked challenges, innovative education programs such as these are crucial to equip future leaders with the interdisciplinary and strategic thinking skills. Learn more about AFI’s approach to education here.
This year’s cohort collaborated with Redwood Properties on a project that brings together sustainable food systems and community development.
Redwood Properties, a land-use developer in the Greater Toronto Area, is working on an innovative vision to create a livable, wellness-focused community that integrates urban growth with natural spaces. Harvest Village, located in East Gwillimbury will be a community focused on recreational, social, and personal wellness and centered on sustainability and resiliency.
At the beginning of the course, students heard from the Redwood Properties team about their aspirations for the project and the challenges they face in bringing it to life. Students, working in interdisciplinary teams, were then assigned a unique challenge to address – spanning regulatory approval and funding, implementing regenerative agriculture practices, attracting local vendors, and promoting agritourism.
Within their teams, students explored how agri-food solutions can play a central role in shaping sustainable, community-centered spaces. Their work included developing a small-scale start-up concept to test ideas and demonstrate the project’s potential for long-term success.
To support their learning, students participated in a variety of workshops focusing on clear communication to develop their skills in this essential area and prepare them for their final presentation to Redwood Properties.
The course kicked off with a workshop from Lynne Mitchell, Director of the Centre for International Programs at U of G, centered around navigating group work and understanding the challenges of working across cultures. Given the interdisciplinary and diverse nature of the student groups as well as the agri-food workforce, effective cross-cultural communication is crucial for improving collaboration.
Student feedback for the course was overwhelmingly positive with students expressing their appreciation for the experiential learning provided through the UNIV*6050:
“The course is very engaging and hands on. It allows students to apply their knowledge on projects. The interdisciplinary nature of the course very helpful. Working with students from various fatuities and departments enhanced effective learning and knowledge sharing of new perspectives.”
“This course was an overall a great experience, I really enjoyed working with Redwood and our problem statement. I think that this course allowed me to escape from my studies and really focus on collaboration and working with different students studying in different departments of OAC.”
“I really enjoyed this course! I liked that it felt almost like a “job” where I was working with Redwood almost as a contracted team. This is something I hadn’t done previously and found to be a great learning experience.”
Alongside these learnings, students had the opportunity to visit the state-of-the-art facility GoodLeaf Farms, which provided a valuable experiential learning opportunity demonstrating the application of advanced vertical farming technologies.
Over the next few weeks, we will delve deeper into the focus areas of each group and the outcomes of their work. Stay tuned to our social media channels and our website – or subscribe to our newsletter – to receive the latest AFI updates.
Interested in education opportunities at AFI? Check out our educational programming at arrellfoodinstitute.ca/education or reach out to afieducation@uoguelph.ca with an expression of interest.