An Ontario start-up with technology that gives fruit growers accurate, real-time crop data is one step closer to full commercialization. Why it matters: Accurate data helps growers bring more efficiency to the farm and greater transparency to the fruit supply chain. Vivid Machines Inc. has just closed a $5.8 million funding round to further develop […] Read more
Smart orchard prediction system moves closer to commercialization
Ontario start-up secures funding to further develop system and expand into other fruits
Vive Crop Protection receives first Canadian product registration
Canadian company developed unique technology that increases efficacy of active ingredients
A Canadian crop protection company, whose patented technology has its roots in research from the University of Toronto, has received its first Canadian product registration. Vive Crop Protection Inc.’s AZteroid FC 3.3 fungicide is labelled for in-furrow use on potatoes against black scurf, silver scurf, and rhizoctonia disease, and is available through UAP Canada. The […] Read more
Natural sugar substitute wins provincial agri-tech pitch competition
Annual competition highlights agricultural innovations
A self-proclaimed recovering sugar addict made the winning pitch at the 2023 Ontario Agri Tech Pitch Competition, walking away with $10,000 in prize money for his precision fermentation start-up, Biofect Innovations. Why it matters: Governments around the world are changing how sugar is labelled and used in food products, so food and beverage manufacturers are […] Read more
Getting the most out of your farm equipment
Making field operations efficient is the target of an Ontario agtech company
An Ontario start-up believes precision agriculture should be easy to use and accessible to all. That’s the premise behind the farm management software IntelliCulture has developed to solve what it says are three of the biggest critical challenges on the farm: labour availability, pest prevention and machine safety. Why it matters: Margins are slim in […] Read more
Searching for sustainable agricultural plastic solutions
Projects in Northern Ontario and the University of Guelph tackle logistical challenges and biodegradable options
The agriculture sector uses a lot of plastic products, from bale wrap and silage bags to plant pots, greenhouse plant clips and semen straws. How to recycle, reuse or otherwise safely and responsibly dispose of these types of products is an ongoing challenge, but the industry is tackling the search for solutions from various sides. […] Read more
Supporting food innovation beyond the farm gate
Canadian Food Innovation Network encourages collaboration across the country
The agriculture sector is familiar with research and innovation from the field to the farm gate. Less well known is the need for innovation beyond the farm gate. That’s where the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) has been filling a gap. CFIN was launched about 18 months ago with the goal of funding innovation and […] Read more
Passion for soil health drives Ontario innovator
On-farm innovation award winner has developed not one but two useful systems to help farmers
Jake Kraayenbrink is passionate about soil health — so much so that he’s spent the better part of the past 15 years developing an innovative tire deflation system that helps farmers reduce soil compaction risks from heavy equipment. It’s on the market today in Canada, Europe, the U.K. and New Zealand under the AgriBrink brand. […] Read more
Ontario colleges serve as ‘surrogate R&D departments’ for agriculture industry
While universities are significant research partners, many colleges provide specialized services
Universities are well-known as centres for research and innovation, attracting both faculty and students based on the depth, breadth and qualities of their research enterprises. In Ontario, the University of Guelph is a particularly significant research partner for the agriculture sector. Less well-known is that many of Ontario’s 24 colleges are also home to centres […] Read more
Biological nitrogen voted among most investable clean tech ventures
Farment BioSolutions one of eight agriculture tech companies selected for Foresight 50
A B.C.-based start-up that combines nitrogen-fixing bacteria and fermentation to create biological nitrogen has been named as one of Canada’s most investable cleantech ventures. Farment BioSolutions Ltd. is one of eight agriculture-focused technology companies included on the 2022 Foresight 50 list. The list is compiled annually by Canadian cleantech accelerator Foresight and is designed to […] Read more
Ontario technology lets farmers produce their own inputs
Waterloo-based company producing green ammonia using water, air and electricity
Clean, economical, and practical – those are the foundational building blocks of a technology that will let farmers produce their own inputs on the farm. Using water, air and electricity, a containerized production system by Waterloo-based FuelPositive will produce ammonia for a variety of uses including agricultural fertilizer or fuel for grain drying and internal […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
