CARES – An Overview
What is CARES?
The "Centre for Agricultural Renewable Energy and Sustainability" (CARES) at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus is a hub for applied and adaptive research, training and education, technology transfer, and rural community development in bio-energy and the bioeconomy. Through extended interaction with its constituent community, CARES will build on the historic background and current skills of Ridgetown Campus to support the agriculture and agri-food sector by integrating an applied research program. This program will advance innovation and adoption of bioenergy through risk minimization, bench-marking and creation of value added components.
What’s the Goal of CARES?
The fundamental goal of CARES is to create an applied research and demonstration facility that allows full testing and integration of new technologies, with the purpose of providing direct benefits at the farm gate level. Currently, no such centre with an integrated applied agricultural focus exists in Canada. While a few on-farm energy projects containing research components exist, there is a need for a much more strategic and integrated approach.
Who Were the Founding Partners?
This concept has been developed in collaboration with the following founding organizations:
- SOBIN (Southwestern Ontario Bioproducts Innovation Network)
- Community Futures Development Corporation of Chatham-Kent
- University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus
- University of Guelph
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
- Municipality of Chatham-Kent
- Agricultural Adaptation Council
- Ontario Seed Corn Growers
- Grain Farmers of Ontario
Together with the support of over 40 stakeholder groups, these founding partners orchestrated the official establishment of CARES in early 2009.
SOBIN's Role in Developing CARES
SOBIN in particular was instrumental in the conception of CARES. The mission of SOBIN is to strengthen the economy of Southwestern Ontario by accelerating the development and adoption of bioproducts, energy conservation and alternative energy sources within and across its industry clusters.
One of their main initiatives has been the development of CARES to help commercialize agricultural renewable energy technologies that will focus on increasing farm gate and rural income.
Want to learn more about CARES?
View the Centre for Agricultural Renewable Energy and Sustainability PROSPECTUS & BUSINESS PLAN 
The CARES prospectus highlights the following areas:
