At Agrisan, investing in the next generation of professionals is more than a program—it’s part of who we are. Since 2019, we’ve partnered with universities such as the University of Guelph to offer co-op opportunities that bridge academic learning and real-world experience. To date, more than a dozen students have joined our team for their co-op term, bringing energy, curiosity, and a fresh perspective that helps us evolve our processes and strengthen our culture.

“Co-op students bring ambition and enthusiasm to the workplace,” says Jessa, Quality Control Supervisor at Agrisan. “They remind us why continuous learning matters—and they push us to be better mentors and leaders.”

For students, the experience goes far beyond coursework. Working in our laboratory provides hands-on exposure to analytical chemistry, quality control, and research and development—skills essential to a career in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Co-op students take part in everything from routine testing to analytical method development and validation, often leading their own projects from concept to completion.

Emelia Schaafsma, a Biological and Pharmaceutical Chemistry student from the University of Guelph, shared that her most rewarding moment was “seeing something I’ve worked on being put into use—whether that’s R&D samples sent to customers, systems I helped organize, or validated methods now applied daily.” Fellow student Kasey Ottewill echoed the value of mentorship: “My supervisor helped me grow in the workplace by explaining complex topics in a way that clicked. I’ve gained confidence in my skills and a clearer sense of my future.”

We also take pride in the broader impact of these collaborations. The University of Guelph’s Co-op Advisors explain that partnerships such as these “foster a cycle of growth, learning, and community development—where students thrive, businesses benefit, and the university fulfills its mission of preparing future leaders.”

As we continue to expand our operations and expertise, our co-op partnerships remain a cornerstone of our values: to leave people better than when we found them.