The federal government pledged up to $5 million in funding for agriculture and food-processing robotics on Friday in hopes of addressing ongoing workforce challenges.
Tag Archives Horticulture
Feds fund agriculture and food processing robotics projects
Diminutive Burro packs a big robotic punch
The unit will follow workers or run in a pre-programmed cycle to move items around a farm
The Burro, a self-driving vehicle that can haul fruit, vegetables, seed and trailers, was unveiled at the London Farm Show in March. “We have not used it in its operational environment yet, but we’re excited to this year, and there’s a lot of interest in it,” said Haggerty AgRobotics project manager Jason Gharibo. Why it […] Read more
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
Robots may help grain farmers diversify
Tech could support labour-intensive higher-value crops
Chuck Baresich, who owns an agricultural robotics business in Ontario, says controlling weeds with robots is probably best suited for high-value, horticultural crops in Canada. However, large-scale grain farmers could also use the technology if they think about it differently. “Let’s say my brother and me are growing 1,500 acres of corn,” said Baresich, who […] Read more
Finding new, energy efficient ways to grow food in the North
Cochrane vegetable grower wins Northern Food Security Challenge with wood biomass heating system
Luke Dinan is passionate about improving food security in northern Ontario and his vision for how to grow more food locally has won the Cochrane, Ont., vegetable grower first prize in the Northern Food Security Challenge. Why it matters: The natural growing season in the north is short and the climate is cool, which limits […] Read more
Ontario trims minimum memberships for ag, hort societies
Eligibility thresholds for provincial operating grants lowered
Rules taking effect with the new year are expected to make it easier for Ontario agricultural and horticultural societies to qualify for provincial grants in the face of a membership crunch. The province on Friday confirmed amendments to regulation 16, attached to its Agricultural and Horticultural Organizations Act, kick in effective Sunday (Jan. 1, 2023). […] Read more
Waste not: Adding value on horticultural waste
A recent study maps out how the horticulture sector can gain value from waste
Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of Canadian fruit and vegetable waste occurs before it reaches consumers, according to a recent study by the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland). One-third of that is landfilled and is considered unavoidable due to current processing and grading standards. To help the horticulture sector improve its environmental sustainability, Vineland […] Read more
Agricultural and horticultural societies get financial support
The Ontario government is providing $1 million to support the province’s agricultural and horticultural societies that continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding is intended to help them continue to operate and support their efforts to educate people about the value and significance of agriculture in the province. The funding with flow […] Read more
Farmers’ net cash income improves as crop prices soar
Winnipeg | Reuters — Canadian farmers reaped record profits last year and are on track to do the same this year, the federal agriculture ministry said on Thursday, as prices for its top crops soared. Prices of canola hit all-time highs this month, rallying with oilseed rival soybeans, on brisk Chinese buying to produce feed […] Read more
Foreign worker isolation support extended
Federal program extended alongside federal restrictions
The federal program helping employers of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) cover the costs of isolating new workers for two weeks on their arrival in Canada has been extended through November. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced Monday that the Mandatory Isolation Support for Temporary Foreign Workers Program will now run to Nov. 30, as the government […] Read more
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