“There is no lack of hemp today in the Canadian market. The supply chain is good here and many existing hemp producers are excited to get another avenue to sell their hemp.” – Doug Kirillo, AltaGreen.

Livestock sector offers opportunity for hemp market

Alberta company works to bring hemp-based poultry feed to market

The livestock feed industry is always looking for new sources of protein that will deliver production results and reduce costs for farmers. A promising option is hemp, and Alberta-based AltaGreen is working to bring a hemp-based poultry feed to market in Canada. Why it matters: Hemp offers a sustainable protein source for animal feed. Hemp […] Read more

Liquid manure is approximately 75 per cent water, making its management complex and expensive.

Recycling livestock manure into clean water and nutrients

A technology that separates the liquid and solid components of manure allows farmers to benefit from its value

An Alberta company used its expertise in contaminated soil cleanup to create an innovative solution to recycle livestock manure into clean water and high value nutrients. At approximately 75 per cent water, managing liquid manure is complex and expensive, so much of its potential is unused. Growing regulatory pressure regarding manure limits farm expansion in […] Read more


Weather station trials at Olds Smart Farm, one of eight smart farms in CAAIN’s Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network that studies the long-term impact of technologies.

National network proves new tech

Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network puts innovations to the test

Automation is often held up as a solution to labour shortages experienced by many industries, including agriculture. The precision that comes with automation is also widely seen as a key to better, more sustainable production of food and agriculture products. This summer will mark four years since the federal government announced $49.5 million in funding […] Read more

Ontario Minister of Agriculture Lisa Thompson presenting the 2023 Excellence in Research and Innovation award to Dave Smardon, CEO of Bioenterprise Canada at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair last November.

Canadian agtech commercialization organization wins award

Bioenterprise Canada honoured for helping agriculture businesses bring their innovations to market

The work of a national agtech commercialization organization has been recognized with an award from the government of Ontario. Bioenterprise Canada was named one of the winners of an Excellence in Research and Innovation award at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)’s 2023 Excellence in Agriculture Awards late last fall. Why […] Read more

The general pressure on farmers and food producers around the world is to do more with less, and do it more quickly than in the past.

Agtech innovations expected to top the 2024 trend list

Investors will look toward regenerative agriculture, alternative proteins and AI

In today’s turbulent times of high interest rates, rising costs and ever-rising demands placed on farmers, innovation is often held up as the tool that will get the sector to much-needed solutions. It sounds simple enough, but innovation is a broad term that encompasses a wide spectrum of fields, from automation and robotics to artificial […] Read more


Ontario’s apple crop was devastated by frost in 2012, when 85 per cent of the province’s apple crop was wiped out. Shown here is frost damage to blossoms on an apple tree in 2012.

Sustainable frost protection innovation wins award

Frost protection tool is made from naturally occurring micro-organisms and protective proteins

An innovation by a B.C.-based startup that could naturally prevent frost damage to fruit crops has been named a winner in the Green Pursuit national pitch competition. Advanced AgriScience was the runner-up in the recent national sustainability and innovation challenge powered by Dairy Farmers of Canada and Bioenterprise, Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine. Why it […] Read more

SomaDetect has developed a sensor and software system that provides farmers with reliable milk-based data from every cow at every milking.

Ontario dairy start-ups win big in New York State

Winners receive mentorship and access to large herds as well as cash

Two Ontario-based dairy start-ups were recently named among the winners of a prestigious $3 million business competition in New York State. SomaDetect won $500,000 and Cattle Scan received a $250,000 prize in the fifth annual Grow-NY Food & Agriculture Competition. It is focused on growing a food and agriculture innovation cluster in Central New York […] Read more

Competition for available investors dollars is fierce in the Canadian agri-tech space.

Entries accepted to Ontario agriculture innovation pitch competition

Competition has helped many innovators commercialize their products

Entries are now being accepted for the second annual Ontario Agri-Tech Pitch Competition. The event offers promising early-stage Ontario ag innovation start-ups the opportunity to pitch their innovations to a panel of judges, connect with potential investors and use coaching and mentorship services to hone their business strategies. Why it matters: Competition for available investors […] Read more


Rashmi Prakash is the founder of Aruna Revolution. The company won the $45,000 Green Pursuit award for its development of menstrual products from compostable fibres.

Turning food and farm byproducts into compostable fibres

Company is using the fibres to create more sustainable menstrual products

A Canadian start-up that makes compostable fibres out of farm and food byproducts has won The Green Pursuit, a national sustainability and innovation challenge hosted by Dairy Farmers of Canada and Bioenterprise Canada. Why it matters: The global menstrual product market, estimated to be a $67.8 billion industry, is an opportunity to provide women with […] Read more

A new automated systems is using artificial intelligence and automation to take the guesswork out of indoor berry production.

Challenge aimed to improve Canada’s food security

Seven Ontario teams have moved to the next phase of Homegrown Innovation Challenge

Canada is known as a leading world producer of many staple crops like wheat, lentils, peas and canola, as well as a global exporter of animal proteins like pork and beef. The same can’t be said for many horticultural crops, except for greenhouse vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, due to nature of the climate. […] Read more