McGill wins award for feeding itself

Posted on Monday, February 25, 2013
By McGill Reporter Staff

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McGill’s decision to feed itself is bearing fruit.

Over the past three years, the horticultural research station on the Macdonald campus has been transformed into a market garden, and is now supplying more than 40,000 kilograms of produce to the University’s Food and Dining Services. This produce is used in residences and dining hall across the downtown and Mac campuses.

These efforts have led the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) and Deloitte to award the University a silver medial for leadership in education at the 2012 IPAC Deloitte Public Sector Leadership Awards Gala in Toronto.

The project was developed when people at Macdonald campus started asking themselves how the research farm could be used for more than just teaching. In the process of looking for answers to this question, students have gained experience in working in commercial-scale agricultural production, as well as in sales and marketing, and have also generated more than 80 new projects geared toward creating a sustainable future.

These range from rain-water collecting experiments to research into how to extend the growing season, to a large-scale leaf-composting program designed to reduce the need for fertilizer on farm fields.

The IPAC/Deloitte Public Sector Leadership Awards program recognizes organizations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership by taking bold steps to improve Canada, through advancements in public policy and management. The award winners reflect the importance of innovation, strategic thinking, trust and team building, shared vision, and effective collaboration and partnerships.