Friday, May 10, 2013

University of Guelph Professor creates App to help control soybean aphids

A smart phone application that helps farmers decide quickly and easily whether to spray to control soybean aphids

GUELPH, Ontario - May 09, 2013 - University of Guelph - In the News - Environmental Sciences professor Rebecca Hallett is featured today on CBC’s online news page. A smart phone application she helped developed is part of a story on new technology helping the farming industry.

Farmers can use the app - Aphid Advisor - to decide whether or not to use insecticide to control aphids on soybeans, based on numbers of aphids and their natural enemies.

Hallett developed the app with Tracey Baute, a field crop entomologist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and a U of G graduate, and Christie Bahlai, a U of G grad student in environmental biology. It’s based on research conducted in the School of Environmental Sciences and the Department of Plant Agriculture.

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Thursday, May 9, 2013

The Co-operators recognized among Canada's Green 30

GUELPH, Ontario, May 9, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Co-operators has once again been recognized for its commitment to protecting the environment as several of its member companies were listed among Canada's Green 30 by Aon Hewitt for the fourth consecutive year. The list, which is based on Canadian employees' impressions of their employers' environmental performance, was published in the May 20 issue of Maclean's magazine, on newsstands today.

This year, Co-operators Life Insurance Company of Regina, The Sovereign General Insurance Company, based in Calgary, and The Co-operators, including The Co-operators Group Limited, Co-operators General Insurance Company, and Montreal-based Addenda Capital, took three of the 30 spots.

"People want to work for companies that act responsibly, and they really get behind initiatives and policies that align with their personal values," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "Across the country and throughout our group of companies, our employees' support for the organization's efforts to advance environmental and social sustainability has been incredible."

As a co-operative insurer, The Co-operators strives to be a good citizen and a catalyst for sustainability. This involves balancing economic, environmental, and social priorities in order to conduct business in a way that minimizes negative impact and strengthens communities. . For example, The Co-operators is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated through their operations by 50 per cent by 2014 and collaborating with organizations such as Ceres to support the development of more resilient cities. . Detailed information on the organization's performance is available in its sustainability report, which was released today on www.cooperators.ca.

Aon Hewitt is a global consulting company that compiles the Best Small and Medium Employers, and Best Employers in Canada lists. Companies on those lists are automatically considered for the Green 30, as green initiatives go hand in hand with attracting, and retaining employees. The Green 30 is compiled based on staff perceptions of environmental initiatives, and their employers' efforts to consider long-term social, environmental, and economic factors when making decisions.

About The Co-operators:

The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $35 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada and Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.