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EMILI joins Olds College’s Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network

Olds College of Agriculture and Technology announced the Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative (EMILI) is bringing Innovation Farms Powered by AgExpert into the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network. The network currently has six members across three different provinces in Canada working collaboratively towards advancing ag tech solutions and sustainability across Canada.

The Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network — led by Olds College — is a network of smart farms supporting Canada’s agriculture sector to enhance efficiency, sustainability and resilience in response to emerging opportunities and challenges. The network fosters collaboration among researchers, producers, industry partners and other stakeholders nationwide to drive innovative projects that address critical issues in ag tech development and adoption. The network facilitates knowledge exchange and capacity building and serves as a platform for real-world testing and validation of new technologies.

“We’re so happy to announce the third expansion site of the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network and welcome EMILI into our collaborative working environment,” says Dr. Joy Agnew, vice-president of research at Olds College. “The network gives all members the opportunity for open communication and co-operation to leverage the full potential of digital technologies to drive innovation and growth in Canada’s diverse agriculture industry. Together, we’re able to better access and apply innovative technologies and best practices that enhance productivity, reduce costs and increase profitability by sharing our knowledge and lessons learned.”

Agnew says with continued expansion and collaboration across different agricultural zones and land bases across Canada, more depth is brought to the projects and technology evaluations conducted at Canada’s smart farms, which benefits farmers and developers.

The Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network launched in 2021. In addition to EMILI and the Olds College Smart Farm, the initiative also includes Discovery Farm Langham located just north of Saskatoon, Sask., Lakeland College located at Vermilion, Alta., University of Saskatchewan (USask) Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) located near Saskatoon, Sask., and Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives Inc. (MBFI) located near Brandon, Man.

EMILI’s Innovation Farms Powered by AgExpert is a 5,500-acre full-scale, commercial farming operation that helps expand the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network into Manitoba as it pertains to dry land crop production and is an additional voice to share research findings with the industry across the Prairies. The farm is a fully-sensored seed farm that provides innovators across industry and academia access to leading-edge equipment, technology and production practices in order to develop viable solutions to the diverse agronomic and technological constraints and opportunities farmers face.

Joining the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network brings the opportunity for EMILI to be part of a community with a shared purpose and values around advancing Canadian agriculture, as well as sharing best practices and findings across diverse agricultural regions in Canada.

“We know that technological advancement leads to new and expanded businesses, new well-paying jobs, and the preservation of existing jobs,” says Jacqueline Keena, EMILI managing director. “Collaborating with the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network is a great opportunity for EMILI to support the advancement of digital agriculture and increase the reach of the work we are doing on Innovation Farms Powered by AgExpert.”

Visit oldscollege.ca/smartfarmnetwork to learn more about the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network, or contact Olds College Centre for Innovation to inquire about joining the network.