ON the Radar

UNIVERSITY CENTRE FOOD MARKET OFFERS FRESH PRODUCE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES

In collaboration with the Feeding 9 Billion initiative, the University of Guelph launched its new community food market in early March. The hope is that the market will improve food security for students who often cannot afford to purchase healthy foods because they are more expensive than unhealthy foods are.

Spearheaded by U of G students Maya Nickle and Vivian Ma, the market is held every Thursday afternoon in the University Centre.

It offers a variety of fruits and vegetables sourced by The SEED, a local not-for-profit community food project. Anyone within the campus community is welcome to shop at the market stands, and produce is priced according to a sliding scale which buyers can use to determine what amount they are comfortable paying.

“Money is a huge factor when deciding when and where to eat on campus. When it comes to produce, students only have access to a limited selection,”

said Ma. “Having the market in such a public space has really brought everyone together and helped increase awareness of food security.”

So far, the market has been a success. U of G News reports that customers regularly line up with reusable bags to browse and shop for produce, and they also appreciate the sliding scale pricing. Events have also been held in collaboration with the market, including a smoothie social and a plant-based proteins discussion.

After a total of six weeks, the market will wrap up on April 7. However, organizers hope it will become more permanent in the coming semesters.

U OF G TAKES STEPS TO OFFSET STUDYABROAD CARBON EMISSIONS

The University of Guelph’s Centre for International Programs (CIP) has invested in a new initiative that will help to reduce and offset carbon emissions generated by study-abroad travel.

CIP is collaborating with PlanetAir, a non-profit organization that specializes in offsetting greenhouse gas emissions through a variety of environmental projects, including reforestation and renewable energy initiatives.

U of G students, faculty, and staff will now be able to reduce their own travel emissions by purchasing PlanetAir’s gold-standard carbon offsets. In order to encourage students to invest in this program, CIP will be matching student carbon offsets up to $4,000 a year.

This is CIP’s first step towards reaching its goal of carbon-neutral study abroad by 2025. Other steps will include partnering with the U of G’s sustainability office to promote education about this initiative as well as the expansion of virtual exchange programs.

According to Dr. Lynne Mitchell, director of CIP, studyabroad programs that involve air travel are a major contributor to the global climate crisis. Therefore, CIP hopes that its collaboration with PlanetAir will allow students to continue pursuing international experiences while also caring for the environment.

For more information about the initiative, students, staff, and faculty can reach out to the Centre for International Programs at cip@uoguelph.ca.

U OF G GENERATED $8.6 BILLION FOR THE NATIONAL ECONOMY DURING 2019-2020 YEAR, SAYS NEW REPORT

According to an economic report on the University of Guelph prepared by accounting firm Ernst & Young, the university had a $8.6 billion impact on Canada’s GDP during the 20192020 fiscal year.

The report, released in March 2022, aimed to measure the economic impact of the U of G on national, provincial, and local economies in 2019-2020. It analyzed factors such as research productivity, spending by students, operational activities, alumni and visitors, and capital programs.

“From spending on local contracts and partnerships to expenditures on transit, housing and food, the U of G community’s economic impact supports a strong community, driving prosperity and success,” said President Charlotte Yates in a news release.

At the national level, U of G contributed 21,400 jobs, $1.1 billion in labour income, and $2 billion to Canada’s GDP through research productivity alone in the 2019-2020 year. Furthermore, with U of G’s research and educational facilities scattered throughout the province, the university has generated $5.22 billion for Ontario’s GDP, with another $1.44 billion from the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.

U of G has also been regarded as an “economic engine” for the communities where its campuses reside, producing over 15,000 local jobs, $523 million in annual student spending, and $2.77 billion to regional GDPs, including in Toronto, Chatham-Kent, and Guelph-Wellington.

This economic contribution has increased by over a billion dollars since U of G’s 2018 report, which announced a $7.2 billion national impact.