Owen Roberts is a journalist and a columnist with daily, weekly and monthly print and online media, an adjunct agricultural communications professor and the research communications director at the University of Guelph. As well, he serves as editor of the University’s Research magazine.
In the media, Owen typically discusses urban perspectives on agri-food issues. He is vice-president of the 3,000-member International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, which represents journalists in 33 countries.
At the University of Guelph, Owen created the popular student-research writing program Students Promoting Awareness of Research Knowledge (SPARK), which celebrates its 25th year in 2014-15. Many of his former students are active in journalism, communications and marketing in Ontario and elsewhere.
Owen holds a Bachelor of Arts (communications) from the University of Windsor, a Master of Science (rural extension studies) from the University of Guelph, and a Doctor of Education (agricultural education and communications) from Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University. In 2005 he was awarded an honourary life membership by the Ontario Institute of Agrologists.
Owen is a native of Mitchell’s Bay (pop. 350), Ontario, Canada.