Five Ontario companies are among 13 semi-finalists selected in the federal government's Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge, which is seeking innovative ways to reduce methane emissions from dairy and beef cattle.

Challenge model a new way to fund, support innovation

Solar dry, soldier fly, AI: Africans fight hunger with innovation
Alongside container farms in South Africa cultivating soldier flies for animal feed, solar-powered fish and crop dryers in Tanzania and machine-learning pest detectors in Kenya, Africans are coming up with innovative solutions to overcome the effects of climate change on food production.

Ag in Motion Innovation Awards handed out
The competition was made up of five categories, each including three contestants. Their innovations ranged from a giant manure bio-gas tank-trailer to a simple plastic calf castration card, from analytical management systems to hand-held leaf-scanning apps.

Feds fund Alberta value-added projects
Over $21 million will support numerous projects throughout the province
Reading Time: < 1 minute Federal funding will provide $21 million for agriculture-related projects in Alberta.

At Agribition: Livestock tech companies earn new spotlight
Canadian Animal Ag Tech Awards presented
Three companies were crowned winners at the first annual Canadian Animal Ag Tech Awards on Thursday during Canadian Western Agribition in Regina. The event spotlighted companies creating technology for the livestock industry, with products ranging from water sensors to artificial intelligence-powered monitoring systems. Australia’s Smart Paddock received the Innovation Award. The company’s GPS ear tags […] Read more

Robots may help grain farmers diversify
Tech could support labour-intensive higher-value crops
Chuck Baresich, who owns an agricultural robotics business in Ontario, says controlling weeds with robots is probably best suited for high-value, horticultural crops in Canada. However, large-scale grain farmers could also use the technology if they think about it differently. “Let’s say my brother and me are growing 1,500 acres of corn,” said Baresich, who […] Read more

Schoepp: When we put values ahead of winning, good things happen
Of course we play to win but those who dare to be different often reap exceptional rewards
Reading Time: 3 minutes I have found a cousin — or rather he found me. Years ago, I had placed a little post on Facebook with a short message in which I said I was looking for information on my maternal grandmother. I knew her name and when she passed, but that was nearly all. And I wanted to […] Read more

The next big AgTech ideas presented at Canada’s Farm Show
Farmers, ranchers, and folks who work in the agriculture industry all want the latest and greatest technology for their respective fields. At the 2022 Canada’s Farm Show in Regina, Saskatchewan, six teams competed in a 24-hour “Agtech” start-up competition. It emulates shows like Dragon’s Den and entailed each team selecting one member to represent them […] Read more

Prizes put up to develop year-round berry production in Canada
Weston Foundation's new challenge backed with $33 million
A philanthropic foundation focused on improving public health now wants to improve diets by finding ways to juice up Canada’s home-grown fruit supplies. The Weston Family Foundation on Tuesday pledged $33 million over six years for what it calls the Homegrown Innovation Challenge, a prize challenge pitting ideas against ideas with the goal of extending […] Read more
Olds College gets funding boost for ag tech
Reading Time: < 1 minute Olds College is getting a boost for its Smart Ag Innovation Centre thanks to $500,000 in funding from UFA. The contribution, to be made over the next five years, will allow the college to create an ‘innovation lab’ in the centre. The lab will be “a dedicated technological hub on campus where students and faculty […] Read more