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Agtech

SFU Launches Agricultural Genomics Innovation Hub to Enhance Food Tech

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Canada recently revealed $6.6 million in federal support for two new hubs, with over $9M in additional investment from provincial government and business partners. The Climate-Smart Data Collaboration Centre and the Agricultural Genomics in Action Centre will operate out of Simon Fraser University, an institution with a history of advancing ag-tech.

The Climate-Smart Data Collaboration Centre will bring together experts from across Canada to develop a decentralized ecosystem, featuring frameworks for sharing data, open-source processing toolkits, and improved community competency and literacy. The Agricultural Genomics in Action Centre, meanwhile, will aim to align and coordinate knowledge mobilization strategies and activities to bridge the gap between generation and implementation.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Techcouver.

Canada Funds ‘Bioproducts Cluster’ to Convert Agricultural Waste to Energy

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Canada announced more than $6 million in funding through the federal AgriScience Program to support national nonprofit Bioindustrial Innovation Canada. The funding will empower BIC to forge the Bioproducts Cluster, a project which will aim to develop specialized technologies that turn renewable resources like agricultural residues into useful bio-fuels and bio-materials like ethanol and biodegradable plastics.

“This funding will provide new opportunities for our farmers to profit from agricultural by-products that would otherwise go to waste,” stated minister Lawrence MacAulay. The revenue from Canadian industrial bio-products in 2015 was estimated at $4.3B; by 2030, the global bio-economy is projected to reach $10T CAD annually, with Canada’s estimated share up to $240B.

Want to know more? Check out the source code here.

Alberta is Funding the Future of Farming in Canada as Researchers Tap into New Tech

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Alberta boasts more than 50 million acres of farmland, while Canada has agriculture-related trade agreements with over 50 other nations—giving the province’s producers market access to 1.5 billion people. To capitalize on this opportunity, research funding from Alberta Innovates is targeting technologies that could benefit Canadian food producers as well as open new markets for cannabis in areas such as skincare and medicine.

Grants have been awarded to three research teams, the organization announced this week: The University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, and Calgary-based LWR Technologies. Projects leverage various tech such as nano-tech, quantum dot tech, and microwave sensor tech.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Calgary.tech.

A.I. and Robots are Coming to a Canadian Smart Farm Near You

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Alberta Innovates is fostering collaboration between farmers and technologists through smart farm networks in Canada. These farms provide crucial real-world testing grounds for new agricultural technologies with an aim to drive innovation and sustainability.

By 2050, an average farm may generate four million data points daily, with Canada investing in tools to harness this data for smarter decision-making. Alberta Innovates, which oversees nearly 1,300 projects valued at $1.33 billion organization, supports the movement through initiatives like the Olds College Smart Farm, part of the nationwide Canadian Agri-food Automation and Intelligence Network.

Want to know more? Check out the source code on Calgary.tech.