Lakeland College is proud to be among Research Infosource Inc.’s Top 50 Research Colleges in Canada, securing the 44th spot nationwide. This recognition underscores Lakeland’s reputation as a hub for innovation, sustainability and student-driven discovery.

With 97 research partnerships, six recently completed major projects and 25 paid student researchers actively engaged in applied research, Lakeland is making a measurable impact in the agricultural industry. The college ranked fourth nationally for research in artificial intelligence in small tier colleges thanks to three groundbreaking AI projects.

“Lakeland College is driving innovation that matters,” says Dr. Francois Paradis, dean of Lakeland’s Applied Research department. “Our applied research team is committed to delivering sustainable, real-world solutions for producers, while giving students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge agricultural research. We are proud to be recognized as one of the top research colleges in Canada.”

Lakeland’s applied research initiatives focus on advancing production practices and accelerating technology adoption in agriculture, ensuring producers have the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. By integrating students into every stage of research, Lakeland empowers the next generation of innovators to tackle challenges with creativity, collaboration and purpose. Current projects include investigating new heifer selection strategies, assessing precision spraying for sustainable weed control in crop production, the use of GPS for monitoring bull activity and evaluating new compostable net wrap for biodegradability and to assess accumulation in the cow’s rumen.

Photo: Dr. Obioha Durunna analyzing samples for a project on insect growth regulators.