The vision of an automated harvesting system for the mushroom industry recently took a significant step closer to becoming a reality. The federal government, through its national supercluster for advanced manufacturing, Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen), announced almost $4.2 million in funding to improve the mushroom harvesting system that Putnam,Ont.-based Mycionics Inc. has been developing. […] Read more
Tag Archives automation — page 2
Two Ontario farms to test automated mushroom harvesting system
Creating a system that can select the right mushrooms without bruising is the challenge
Does your milker need a robot room or not?
An enclosed room around a milking robot is no longer a regulatory requirement
Ontario dairy producers are still constructing robot rooms around their automated milking equipment, even though it’s no longer a requirement. Revisions to the National Automatic Milking Systems Guidelines, put together by the Canadian government and dairy industry representatives in 2020, no longer necessitates milking equipment areas, such as stationary automated milking systems, to have positive […] Read more
Meat plants consider automation
Tyson hires former Google research executive as president
Glacier FarmMedia – Hundreds of meat plant workers in North America fell ill with COVID-19 when the pandemic hit earlier this year. It caused many processors to temporarily close or slow production. That was combined with high absenteeism because workers feared getting sick and higher rates of worker absence persist in some regions. Why it […] Read more
Figuring out where robots fit in the field
European developers are still trying to decide what size of farm will buy their products
As Europe aims to slash herbicide use, some equipment developers are looking to weeding robots as a solution. Those developers, however, say misalignments between individual farmer needs and equipment designs need to be addressed. Why it matters: As in Canada, ensuring robots match the needs of farmers working in different conditions, and that adequate support […] Read more
Why farming systems lag in adoption of automation
Technology plus systems plus support infrastructure are needed before automation can take root on Canadian farms
Researchers around the world, including those in Canada, have been racing to create technology that can reduce the workers required on fruit and vegetable farms and in processing plants. But the pace has been slow and the big labour savings so far have been limited. Why it matters: Finding ways to get the job done […] Read more
Agri-food tech expected to be a post-pandemic growth industry
Ag, food sectors may seek out more e-commerce, labour-saving tools
Ottawa — A researcher at the University of Guelph says the COVID-19 pandemic will spark agility – particularly related to technology – in agriculture. “(The pandemic) has re-emphasized the need to get access to some of the technology that exists in other sectors and are not easily accessible in agri-food systems,” said Rozita Dara, an […] Read more
Vineland hires new automation leader
Hussam Haroun has joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) as director of automation. In his new role, Haroun will oversee Vineland’s activities related to automation, artificial intelligence and digital agriculture technologies. He launched his own start-up after patenting and commercializing a new technology during graduate school. As CEO, he secured more than $3 million […] Read more
Robot automates hard-to-fill jobs in agriculture and turf
The RomeIO robot is being tested in many uses in agriculture where labour is scarce
A local start-up has developed a compact, rugged autonomous robot that can automate a wide range of agricultural tasks, like soil sensing, applying inputs, and harvest yield prediction for grapes. Korechi Innovations’ RoamIO features an expandable platform that is compatible with different functional attachments — similar to the DOT technology from western Canada —has a […] Read more
Federal funds to support agricultural innovation
Funding intended to accelerate automation and digitization in agriculture sector
The federal government continues to fund large agriculture organization networks with the aim to improve automation in the sector. Why it matters: Tech-adoption on the farm is increasingly identified as an opportunity to make Canadian agriculture more competitive. Governments and industry are devoting resources to support this direction. Up to $49.5 million has been pledged, […] Read more
Autonomous platform to make Ontario debut
Canadian-developed DOT A-U1 Power Platform continues to add more implements
The U-shaped DOT A-U1 Power Platform, an autonomous farming robot, will have its Ontario debut at the 2019 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show at Woodstock. DOT will be accompanied by many members of the company’s Autonomous Farming team, along with CEO of DOT Farm Solutions, Robert Saik. Why It matters: The showcase will give farmers an […] Read more
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