Governments Investing in Innovation to Strengthen Ontario's Agri-Food Sector

Sep 10, 2024

Toronto, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing an additional $3.5 million in the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) to support the development and adoption of new technologies for farmers, food processors and agri-businesses that will enhance their competitiveness and growth. Funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) between Ontario and Canada, this additional intake will support investments in the applied research, pilot and demonstration, and knowledge translation and transfer streams. The Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub (GOAH), which provides advisory services to agri-food companies, will continue to be available.

Over 100 research and innovation projects and activities have received funding through the latest intake, which includes 67 applied research and pilot and demonstration projects and 10 commercialization projects. More than 30 businesses are also receiving specialized expert mentoring through the Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub.

Examples of projects funded under the last OAFRI intake include:

A digital animal biosecurity product for swine and poultry farmers
Developing solutions to detect contamination at food processing plants and large farms
Improving data management and communication for Ontario dairy farmers with a digital platform to boost efficiency.

The Sustainable CAP is a 5-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

Source : Canada.ca

Video: predictive weed Management saves on herbicide costs and increases yield potential

Gowan Canada is partnering with Geco Strategic Weed Management to help Canadian growers take a strategic approach to weed control through data-driven prediction and planning.

Geco’s technology uses data and AI to map where weeds have been over the past five years and predict where patches are likely to emerge next season. These insights allow farms and retailers to plan ahead and target actions in the most challenging areas.

“Our technology enables the question: if you could know where your most problematic patches are and where they are spreading to, what could you do differently? That’s what our technology makes possible,” said Greg Stewart, CEO of Geco. “Many of our farms are already using our prescriptions along with Gowan products, so this collaboration is a natural next step.”