An Ontario company has just received a funding boost from the federal government for its smart visioning technology. P&P Optica of Waterloo has developed a system that harnesses the power of light to measure chemistry to improve meat quality and safety. The new funding will help promote its automated inspection system to meat processors. Using […] Read more
Using the science of light to reduce food waste, improve meat quality
Waterloo start-up receives expansion support
Low cost, real-time soil carbon quantification could be a game changer
Two start-ups combine forces to provide farmers with better decision making on soil carbon
A new partnership between two companies with technologies rooted in artificial intelligence is making carbon quantification more accessible, profitable and scalable for farmers and landowners. Quebec-based ChrysaLabs is an agtech startup that uses cloud computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning for precision soil sampling in real time. It has teamed up with EarthOptics, a soil […] Read more
Local data useful for better crop management decisions
Engineering graduates develop technology that helps vineyards and orchards manage fungal and pest pressures
A Niagara-region start-up is offering field-specific, real-time weather data and spore collection to help farmers with smart fungicide scheduling for orchards and vineyards. Founded by three University of Waterloo mechatronics engineering graduates, Maesos Technologies Inc. uses a two-part approach of climate sensors and airborne fungal spore samplers to help growers make decisions on when and […] Read more
Digital biosecurity software attracts local, international attention
Ontario-based Farm Health Guardian improving communication for farmers during disease outbreaks
Disease prevention and responding quickly in case of an outbreak are two critical components to keeping livestock healthy, borders open and food on grocery store shelves. An Ontario company has developed a series of tools to help the agriculture sector do just that, and their innovations are turning heads on both sides of the Atlantic. […] Read more
Startup’s predictive model can help with spraying decisions
Ukko Agro Inc.’s analytics platform said to predict disease risk up to a week in advance
An Ontario company with predictive crop models that can help farmers optimize when and where to spray fungicides is the only agriculture-focused innovator chosen for the 2022 Google for Startups Accelerator Canada. Ukko Agro Inc. has developed an analytics platform that alerts farmers to disease risk up to a week in advance and predicts crop […] Read more
Fish versus farms on the Faroes
How a North Atlantic community has remained self-sufficient in agriculture for 10 centuries
In Canada and indeed in most western countries, agriculture usually struggles to be heard and understood by a largely urban public that has little idea of where their food comes from. In the Faroe Islands, a collection of 18 islands located midway between Scotland, Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic, the fight for agriculture […] Read more
Innovative land-based shrimp farm built on circular economy
German company successful due to co-locating near sewage plant
In the years leading up to the start of the pandemic, land-based shrimp farming in Ontario was gaining attention as a potentially new and growing food production sector. However, high production costs, difficulties sourcing hatchlings, and production challenges eventually combined to dash the hopes of most budding shrimp farmers in Ontario and other parts of […] Read more
Innovative tech solutions for livestock win at international competition
Automated feeding, drug administration are among the winning entries
Innovations focused on automation and artificial intelligence accounted for half of the double gold star winners at a leading international event for animal breeding this year. Organizers of SPACE, an annual livestock and poultry trade show held in France, have announced the winners of their Innov’SPACE innovation competition ahead of the three-day event’s opening day […] Read more
Improving food security in northern Ontario
Finalists named for Northern Ontario Innovation Challenge
Seven agri-food entrepreneurs from across northern Ontario have been chosen as finalists in the Northern Ontario Innovation Challenge run by Bioenterprise Canada, a national accelerator known as Canada’s food and agri-tech engine. The seven agri-businesses will showcase their innovations at a public demonstration day in September with short pitch presentations to a panel of judges […] Read more
Europe’s insect industry enters large-scale production
Sustainable insect farming to play a key role in the future of food and farming
Insects as a food source is not new in many parts of the world, but only in the last decade or so have they gained significant interest in Western countries. Europe is home to many of the world’s leading insect producers, and after about 10 years of research and development, its budding insect industry is […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
