A group of 13 representatives, including herders, farmers, and officials, visited the college's technology farm.
Recently, a visit by 13 individuals from Mongolia took place at the Olds College of Agriculture and Technology, who were eager to find new ideas for agricultural development and increasing youth employment in their country.
Olds University, located in Alberta, was founded in 1913 as Olds Agricultural College and is now part of the Alberta Rural Development Network.
In 1911, the college served as a demonstration farm funded by local authorities. On November 21, 1913, it opened as the Olds School of Agriculture and Home Economics under the leadership of W.J. Elliott, where students studied agronomy, agricultural mechanization, and home economics. At that time, the management of the college was transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Higher Education. In 2022, the institution was renamed Olds College of Agriculture and Technology.
During their visit last month, the delegation was introduced to presentations of research projects conducted at the Technology Access Center for Livestock Production (TACLP) and learned about the role of the college's "smart farm".
This allowed them to gain a closer understanding of the college's approach to education in agriculture and applied research.
The visit was part of the initiative "Improving the Adaptation and Resilience of Communities to Climate Change in Mongolia" (ECCO-FARM), funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by the consulting firm Alinea International based in Calgary.
"The delegation members were very interested in the quality and diversity of programs offered at Olds College, as training youth in agriculture is a key priority for Mongolia and the ECCO-FARM project," noted Debra Rasmussen, Senior Project Director at Alinea International.
"It was particularly valuable to see the practical learning opportunities, as they consider how best to prepare the next generation for successful careers in agriculture."
The college's progressive research in livestock aligns with the core aspects of the ECCO-FARM project in Mongolia, stated the institution's press release.
"The visit was an important opportunity for experience sharing and collaboration between the two parties," added the organizers.
The tour of the Smart Farm turned out to be a landmark event, and the delegation was thrilled to see a working research meat farm in Canada.
The group included not only government officials from Mongolia but also several herders and farmers.
As a token of recognition, the TACLP team was presented with a scroll in Mongolian, written in traditional script, with the inscription: "From the Mongolian delegation, Olds College, we wish you every success."
Tatar S. Maidar
source: MiddleAsianNews
