The first round of students who have received Graduate Research Training Initiative (GRTI) Fellowships at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) are making a significant contribution to the local agriculture industry. From finding ways to manage agricultural impacts on air and water quality to discovering local alternative calcium sources for laying hens, these students hard work is leading to successful employment within the Nova Scotia agriculture sector.

Since the start of this program in 2004, 19 NSAC graduate students from Nova Scotia have been awarded GRTI fellowships. Students are conducting research in areas such as manure management, alternative feeds, managing agricultural impacts on air and water quality, reproductive performance of mink, alternatives to antibiotic use in dairy cows and wastewater treatment methods, among others.

The GRTI Fellowship is a prestigious scholarship and is an initiative under the Canada-Nova Scotia Agricultural Policy Framework through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture.

“These scholarships are helping our best and the brightest young minds apply their knowledge and enthusiasm to the challenges of the agriculture industry,” said the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board. “Through innovation and dedication they are creating new opportunities and contributing to a positive future for the industry.”

The fellowship program provides financial support to NSAC graduate students whose research will benefit the Nova Scotia agriculture and agri-food sector. The fellowships are intended to encourage qualified students to undertake graduate studies, thus building a professional capacity to meet the future needs of Nova Scotia's agri-food industry.

It is anticipated that these fellowships will build a pool of professionals to address the future scientific needs of the Nova Scotia agricultural sector. Laurence Nason, Executive Director for the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture (NSFA), agrees.

“Everybody, including the agriculture sector, is concerned about filling the gaps resulting from out-migration and mass retirements,” said Nason. “The GRTI program may very well be part of the solution to keeping highly qualified people in the province and providing those already employed in the industry with professional development opportunities.”