EMILI and CAPI share insights into the future of digital agriculture

Dec 12, 2025

EMILI and the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) recently spoke at Farm Management Canada’s Agriculture Excellence Conference about the importance of increasing on-farm adoption of new technologies and innovation in order to increase productivity growth in Canada’s agriculture sector.

EMILI Managing Director Jacqueline Keena introduced the session with an overview of what EMILI learned this growing season, including a recent poll asking visitors to Innovation Farms powered by Ag Expert for their perspectives on what is needed to increase producer trust in technology and how prepared people are for the AI era.

CAPI Director of Strategic Projects Elise Bigley shared insights into what CAPI is hearing from stakeholders while collaborating with EMILI to publish The Future is Digital, a research report examining how public policy can support the adoption of digital agriculture technology in Canada. Bigley also shared learnings from CAPI’s recent report, At a Turning Point, which explores Canada’s agricultural research and development.

According to Bigley, digital agriculture is a critical part of how innovation is generated. “Globally, digital agriculture is becoming a key lever for competitiveness, shaping environmental standards, trade, and market access,” she said. “Digital agriculture is needed for the Canadian ag sector to achieve its full potential.”

EMILI Innovation Farms Manager Leanne Koroscil followed Bigley’s presentation with a conversation about innovative technologies being tested and validated at EMILI’s Innovation Farms, such as how entering data on fuel usage and field practices into AgExpert Field allows EMILI to model greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestered through the growing season to gain a better understanding of the sustainability footprint at Innovation Farms.

“We work with a number of entrepreneurs and innovators to either help them bring pre-commercial technologies to the market, or work with them to advance their commercial technologies and actually practice it on a real farm so we can provide feedback and work with them to make farmers lives much more easier,” said Koroscil

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Video: Agriculture Secretary Rollins Speaks at American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim

One of the highlights at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in Anaheim, California, was an address by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. During her remarks, she thanked America’s farmers and ranchers and said the Trump Administration is fully aware that food security is national security.

She also acknowledged the challenging times in Farm Country with low commodity prices and high input costs and said that’s why the President stepped in to help with the recent Bridge Assistance Program.

Montana Farm Bureau Federation Executive Vice President Scott Kulbeck says that Farm Bureau members are appreciative of the help and looks forward to working with the American Farm Bureau Federation and its presence in Washington, DC to keep farmers and ranchers in business.

Secretary Rollins said the Trump Administration is also committed to helping ranchers build back America’s cattle herd while also providing more high-quality U.S. beef at the meat case for consumers.

And she also announced more assistance for specialty crop producers who only received a fraction of the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA).

It’s important to note that producers who qualify for Farmer Bridge Assistance can expect the Farm Service Agency to start issuing payments in late February. For more information, farmers and ranchers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center.