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
Federal departments use crowd-sourcing concept to find ways to reduce methane emissions from cattle
Canada lags in agri-food innovation funding
We will never become a true player on the global innovation stage unless barriers removed
The U.S. takes agri-food innovation much more seriously than Canada does, both by recognizing agriculture as a priority sector with economic growth potential and by making meaningful investments into agri-food entrepreneurs in their regions.
From food waste to protein in six days
Entosystem’s insect rearing technology turns food waste into animal protein and frass fertilizer
Entosystem’s plant in Drummondville can process 90,000 tonnes of organic matter a year, turning it into 5,000 tonnes of high quality protein meal suitable for aquaculture and poultry feed. The company also sells whole black soldier fly larvae as chicken treats for backyard flocks.
New AI-based technologies offer weed control solutions
Canadian and Swiss companies using AI vision tools to target weeds with electricity and minimal chemical use
Some new approaches to weed control include a Canadian ag tech company that is putting a new spark into an old method by using electricity for weeding, and a Swiss company is using high tech visioning equipment to target spray at the weeds instead of all the plants on the field.
New accelerator hub offers support to innovators
Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub provides advisory, mentoring and business services tailored to unique needs of participants
The Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub (GOAH), delivered by Bioenterprise Canada, is a five-year program in which 100 Ontario-based agri-food and agri-tech companies will receive advisory, mentoring and business support services tailored to their needs.
Swiss plant breeders focus on new varieties for climate resilience
Weather extremes present challenges and opportunities
In Switzerland, the national agricultural policy to 2050 focuses on food security through sustainable development from production to consumption.
Smarter bug farming proves possible
Startup creates software to reduce costs and improve productivity of insect farming
Insect farmers face the same challenges with labour, productivity and disease that farmers of more conventional livestock do. It's still an emerging sector in North America, so not many tools are available to address these issues.
How an agriculture society boosts farm innovation
Grand River Agricultural Society is investing in farm technology businesses
Agricultural societies have long been part of the fabric of rural life in Ontario, but one such organization is changing how it supports agriculture. Philanthropy, particularly support for innovation and the future of the agriculture industry, has become a core part of the Elora, Ont.-based Grand River Agricultural Society. That includes making investments into early-stage […] Read more
Ag tech accelerator connects start-ups with producers and business experts
Cultivator continues to expand its offerings to help ag tech founders flourish
The road to commercialization success for an agricultural innovation entrepreneur is neither short nor straight. It can be hard to find the necessary funding, overcome regulatory barriers, or access all the necessary skills and resources to go from idea to sellable product. That’s where the Saskatchewan-based Cultivator, Canada’s first credit union-led tech incubator, is helping […] Read more
Technology uses sensors to manage feed
Feed flow monitoring reduces costs and improves pig performance
For livestock producers, feed consumption and conversion are leading success indicators, but measuring this in real time can be challenging. Weighing animals regularly isn’t practical, and existing feed monitoring solutions don’t give an accurate picture of what is actually happening inside a barn. Why it matters: Feed is one of the biggest costs in raising […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
