Grain Expo highlights technological possibilities for Sask. agriculture
The second day of the Grain Expo at Agribition focused on the future of technology in the agriculture sector in the province.
The theme was optimism for the future at the expo Wednesday morning. One of the highlights was the official announcement of a partnership between the Agtech Accelerator program, Cultivator, and the University of Regina to help craft an environment where Saskatchewan entrepreneurs can thrive in the emerging sector.
“The University of Regina has a proven track record of producing industry and community leaders along with leading edge research,” said Ami Caragata, Agtech program coordinator for Cultivator.
“As we look to grow Canada’s top Agtech companies from right here in Saskatchewan through our accelerator, we’re excited to have the University of Regina actively involved.”
Associate Vice President of Research at the U of R, Christopher Yost, said the university is looking forward to the prospect of growing the industry within the province.
“This is a unique opportunity for all post-secondary institutions to come together on a nexus around Agtech,” he said. “Really bringing technologies to help producers increase their profits, increase their supply chains and all sorts of things.”
Later in the program a panel of industry experts discussed the issues and possibilities of the industry for Saskatchewan.
“From an advisor’s standpoint. We’re really good at telling the farmer what’s wrong but were not really good at telling them how to fix it,” said Danielle Wildfong, a farm advisor and founder of Danielle Wildfong Consulting. “We need to get really customer facing and farmer focused.”
Wildfong went onto explain that the agriculture sector in Saskatchewan will need a massive knowledge transfer soon, as many farmers are approaching the age of retirement.
“You’ve mastered what you’re doing in your field,” she said. “Now the younger generation is coming up and they’re going to have more access to tech and they’re going to have probably more drive to learn the tech. So, we’ve got a massive knowledge transfer that has to happen and should happen.”
Regardless of the steps that need to happen for the industry to move forward, the future is bright for the industry. Sean O’Connor of Conexus Venture Capital pointed out that Agtech allows Saskatchewan to be at the forefront of a new cutting-edge industry.
“We don’t have to fight over crumbs over this one,” he said. “This will start in Regina and Saskatoon and Winnipeg and Calgary and Guelph. Like we’ve got a new opportunity in the tech space to say the flag should be planted here, we don’t need Agtech to be built from Bay Street outwards.”
As the agriculture industry reels from a series of issues, most notably another year of drought like conditions, Agtech may possibly provide an opportunity to assist farmers in harshening conditions by maximizing their ability to grow in the future.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.