British Columbia is supporting projects to “strengthen food security” within the region while ensuring “more people have the necessary skills to succeed in the growing agri-tech sector.”
Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth for the Province, believes it is “critical that two of British Columbia’s greatest strengths—technology and agriculture—come together to ensure British Columbians can rely on healthy food grown here at home.”
Kahlon says the latest moves connect “innovators with industry partners to turn made-in-B.C. ideas into real-world solutions that create jobs and drive our economy forward in a sustainable future.”
This includes a smart-farming project in Delta and two new agri-tech training programs.
Delta-based Windset Farms is developing a new smart-farming system that automates decision-making with sensors that monitor plant stress for efficient greenhouse crop management.
The project emerged from a 2023 letter of intent between Simon Fraser University and Wageningen University & Research to collaborate on future research programs related to agricultural sustainability challenges and is being supported by the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation.
“This partnership helps us develop advanced smart-farming systems that improve real-time greenhouse monitoring, optimize climate and nutrient management, and detect potential plant disease earlier,” stated Tony Kalf, chief technology officer of Windset Farms. “By optimizing the growing environment, we can create efficiencies while minimizing resource use, allowing us to consistently grow high-quality produce year-round.”
Through Kwantlen Polytechnic University, a training program is being developed to support the need to adopt more drought-resilient crop production systems.
The program, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Regional Extension Program and industry partners, will train participants in “dry farming,” a method that uses agro-ecological measures to cultivate crops with less water.
“We’re engaging dozens of farmers, professionals and students on soil health, agro-ecology, soil and weather data collection, and advancing drought-resilient farming,” remarked Kent Mullinix, director of KPU’s Institute for Sustainable Food Systems.
And another training opportunity developed by the University of the Fraser Valley is demonstrating new robotic-weeding technology.
Weeds are a challenge for fruit and vegetable producers in BC, impacting productivity by competing for resources. This project demonstrates and trains farmers and students on robotic weeding technologies.
“The partnership with BCCAI enables new opportunities for students on current agricultural issues and shows them the types of skills and work opportunities available in agricultural robotics, such as the robotic-weeder demonstration,” commented Renee Prasad, an associate professor of agriculture technology at UFV.
It is anticipated the new project and training opportunities will give more than 350 people advanced training in agri-tech sector skills and create new jobs.
“For technology to deliver real impact, it must go hand in hand with training and upskilling the workforce,” suggests Rahul Singh, director of the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation. “These initiatives demonstrate the power of collaboration in driving sustainable agriculture and food security.”
Launched in 2022 at SFU’s Surrey campus, BCCAI empowers small businesses, producers, and processors to adopt technology solutions that build resilient supply chains and generate global solutions for food security.
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