Lambton College Awarded Grant to Expand Food & Beverage Research Capabilities
SARNIA, July 9, 2025 – Lambton College is proud to announce it has received $200,000 through the Applied Research Tools and Instruments (ARTI) grant, a program under the College and Community Innovation (CCI) initiative funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The announcement was made today in Vancouver, BC, by The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.
This investment will enhance Lambton College’s Food & Beverage (F&B) research and development infrastructure, furthering its ability to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with advanced analytical capabilities. The funding will allow the College to acquire key pieces of research equipment, including a Bomb Calorimeter, Moisture Analyzer, Autosampler for Alcolyzer, Refractometer, Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) system, and additional food analysis tools.
“Our new suite of analytical equipment will significantly improve the depth and precision of our food and beverage research,” said Dr. Mehdi Sheikhzadeh, Senior Vice President, Research & Innovation, Lambton College. “This investment not only strengthens our partnerships with industry but also provides valuable experiential learning opportunities for students in applied research.”
As the second-largest manufacturing sector in Canada, the food and beverage industry is undergoing rapid transformation driven by sustainability goals and evolving consumer demands. With the Ontario F&B sector alone contributing over $40 billion in manufacturing sales, the need for advanced R&D capabilities has never been more critical.
Since 2012, Lambton College has led over 60 collaborative applied research projects with SMEs in the F&B industry, addressing real-world challenges and contributing to product innovation, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. The addition of new equipment will enable more efficient product development, strengthen industry competitiveness, and help companies meet changing standards in a cost-effective and sustainable way.
This funding aligns with Lambton’s commitment to supporting student success, industry innovation, and community impact through applied research.
For more information about Lambton College’s research and innovation initiatives, please visit lambtonresearch.ca.
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