Provided by: Gabriella Perry, Director of IT
IT Annual Update — 2025
This annual report highlights the significant accomplishments and progress achieved by the Information Technology (IT) team over the past year. Throughout 2025, the IT team navigated a year filled with opportunity, growth and measurable success, delivering solutions that strengthened service delivery, enhanced user experience and supported OSCIA’s strategic objectives.
All achievements realized during the year were built on the strong commitment and collaboration of the IT team. Our greatest strength continues to be our people—highly skilled, dedicated professionals who consistently demonstrate excellence, adaptability and a shared commitment to delivering reliable and innovative solutions in a fast-paced environment. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the initiatives, enhancements and systems that supported OSCIA and its clients throughout the year.
Websites and Program Guides
OSCIA’s websites serve as key communication hubs for clients. The OSCIA website is designed to efficiently guide users to the information they need, while the OSCIA Program Guide provides a comprehensive overview of all available programs.
The Program Guide supports farmers in identifying cost-share opportunities appropriate for their operations by offering clear details on intake dates, eligibility criteria, project categories and application processes. All systems are designed with a consistent interface and branding to ensure intuitive navigation and a seamless user experience.
OSCIA Portal and Digital Services
The OSCIA Portal remains the central access point for all OSCIA services. IT’s ongoing focus has been to simplify and enhance OSCIA’s digital presence, ensuring clients can easily access programs, services and information. The portal serves as the primary entry point for registering for educational workshops, applying for cost-share programs and managing memberships.
Workshops and Educational Opportunities
The Workshops module continues to serve as a robust registration platform for educational opportunities, including Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) and Biosecurity workshops. These offerings are delivered in multiple formats to meet diverse needs. EFP workshops are available in-person, virtually and through the electronic EFP platform, while Biosecurity workshops are offered both in-person and virtually across all commodities.
Workshops and Events Calendar
The Workshops and Events Calendar provides a comprehensive, centralized listing of OSCIA-related events, including educational workshops, EFP sessions, Biosecurity workshops, cost-share information sessions, research events, Knowledge Sharing Events (KSEs) and association events.
Events are accessible through multiple viewing options—list, calendar and map views—allowing users to plan effectively based on preference or location. All listings are available in both English and French, and the platform is fully keyword searchable, enabling clients to quickly identify relevant events.
Electronic Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)
The 5th edition of the Electronic Environmental Farm Plan was successfully launched on July 14, 2025. This release reflects continued investment in modernizing digital tools that support producers in completing and managing their EFP requirements efficiently.
Cost-Share Programs — Online Applications
Over the past year, IT successfully supported numerous cost-share program intakes, each with unique timelines and development requirements. A structured IT development framework is followed for every new program to ensure timely delivery, system stability and a high-quality user experience.
Programs supported included the Ontario On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF), Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP), Nature Smart Climate Readiness Program (NSCRP), Honey Bee Health Initiative (HBH), Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL), Species at Risk Farm Incentive Program (SARFIP), Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI), and Special Provisions for Financial Difficulties. Several of these programs required multiple intakes throughout the year.
Cost-Share Programs — Online Claim Submission
A major enhancement introduced this year was the launch of online claim submission. This feature eliminates the need for PDF-based claim forms and final questionnaires, offering clients a fully digital, streamlined process for both applications and claims.
The system ensures all required information is provided before submission, delivers immediate confirmation of receipt, and reduces follow-up related to missing details. Producers can now view and track all submitted claims in one centralized location, significantly improving transparency and user experience.
Membership
Since late 2024, the Membership Platform has been fully integrated into the OSCIA Portal, giving members a single, streamlined login to access and manage their membership at osciaportal.org. In November 2025, automated renewal reminder emails were added, notifying members 14 days before and after membership expiry. Members are encouraged to use the portal to keep their contact information current, receive key communications, and renew memberships online. Increased portal use improves data accuracy, reduces administrative workload, and empowers members to manage their accounts independently.
System Security and Access Protection
System security remains a top priority. Protecting data, ensuring system continuity, preventing disruptions, and meeting regulatory requirements are essential to maintaining trust and reliability. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is implemented across the portal to strengthen access security and safeguard client information.
MFA adds an additional layer of protection beyond passwords, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access. In today’s digital environment, this measure is critical to protecting sensitive data and maintaining secure access to OSCIA services.
Looking Ahead
As we conclude another successful year, sincere appreciation is extended to the IT team for their dedication, collaboration and commitment to excellence. The accomplishments of the past year are a direct result of their hard work, innovation and teamwork. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to deliver impactful solutions in the year ahead.
