Rob Imbeault

This article, and Ted Bilyea's excellent paper, reinforce what I have advocated for years. Canadian Agriculture requires a rapid reset from low cost supplier to domestic markets, and raw commodity exporting, to high value food products that address emergent, and insatiable, global demand for food. This renewed strategy addresses every one of Canada's urgent issues; demonstrated capacity to secure markets other than the US, productivity, sustainability, and restoring balance between the contributions, rewards, and influence of rural Canada and Western Canada and urban Ontario and BC.

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Alberta Innovates: Tech2Farm Program. Offers 50% up to $500k toward validation and commercialization demonstrations that address key agricultural challenges such as food insecurity, waste reduction, and resource efficiency. https://lnkd.in/gSg7be8B

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Innovation Saskatchewan: Agtech Growth Fund (AGF). Provides non-repayable grants up to $450k for tech solutions that benefit Saskatchewan's agriculture sector. Expression of Interest Deadline: Apr. 30, 2026. https://lnkd.in/gnFh9V6A

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New program alert for Canadian farmers. Succession planning is one of the biggest sources of stress in agriculture and Groundworks is doing something about it. Groundworks is a FREE pilot program helping farmers navigate succession planning. Full details below…

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We see A LOT of alignment with the CFIA's SRM policy proposals, with 40/52 of the proposals getting the green light from Canadian Seed Growers' Association (CSGA)! Be sure to check out our Green Light analysis to see how many of these CFIA proposals will positively impact our seed sector.

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Innovation in agriculture increasingly overlaps with broader scientific advancement. Significant capital is flowing into new technologies. Testing cycles are accelerating. More precise tools are becoming possible. The real constraint is regulatory clarity and commercialization capacity. Canada has an opportunity if we align policy, capital, and execution with the pace of innovation. Our conversation with Mike Frank explores what that means for crop protection and for the competitiveness of Canadian agriculture. UPL Corp | Agri Solutions https://lnkd.in/g-r45T3j

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Are you looking to turn your agri-tech innovation into a scalable, investment-ready business? 🌱 The AGTECH ACCELERATOR with Cultivator powered by Conexus brings agriculture and technology together to help Canadian innovators reach product-market fit and accelerate growth. Program benefits include: • A 3-month hybrid program designed to fast-track your business • Direct access to producers, research farms, and industry mentors • Investor connections + pitch opportunities • Smart-farm trials, cohort learning, and tailored commercialization support This accelerator is a high-impact pathway for early-stage agri-tech companies looking to refine your offerings, strengthen adoption readiness, and connect with investors and producers across the ecosystem. 🔗 Learn more & apply: https://ow.ly/IjXM50XzR8F 📣 Know a startup that fits? Share this with them. #AgriTech #FoodTech #Innovation #CdnAg #Startup #Founder

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Innovation Farms powered by FCC AgExpert is unique in Canada in that it operates on a commercial seed farm to test and validate new technologies to bring them from pre-commercial to market, showcase technology demonstrations, and share insights to increase understanding of and access to digital agriculture tools. EMILI is working with close to 30 innovators on Innovation Farms this season. Learn more about some of these projects by visiting https://buff.ly/8bqmxuV #InnovationFarms #DigitalAg #DigitalAgriculture #CdnAg

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Farm Credit Canada's new AI platform, "Root," translates ag research into actionable insights for farmers. This tool aims to enhance decision-making by providing vetted answers to production questions, making it a valuable resource for producers. Learn more about this innovative approach to agricultural extension. 🔗 Full article → https://lnkd.in/gWTe2scz #agtech #cdnag #farmmanagement

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From Remote Communities to Urban Food Security: Vertical Farming Finds Its Purpose The The Ottawa Mission's launch of container-based vertical farming represents more than just another #AgTech deployment—it's a strategic pivot that demonstrates how technologies designed for Canada's most remote communities can address urban food insecurity at scale. Growcer's shipping container farms, now producing 20,000 pounds of fresh greens annually for Ottawa's most vulnerable residents, were originally developed to serve isolated First Nations communities where fresh produce costs can be prohibitive. The technology's migration from remote northern communities to urban Ottawa reveals something important about innovation scaling: the best solutions often find their market through necessity, then expand through adaptability. What makes this deployment particularly strategic is the operational model. The Ottawa Mission serves over one million meals annually, creating the demand certainty that makes container farming economically viable while addressing a critical social need. The $1.5 million RBC investment through the Ottawa Community Foundation isn't just funding technology—it's demonstrating how financial institutions can directly support food security infrastructure that generates measurable social impact. The broader implications extend beyond this single installation. With over 120 Growcer farms now operating across 62 Canadian communities, we're seeing the emergence of a distributed food production network that reduces dependency on long supply chains while creating local economic opportunities. This approach addresses both climate resilience and food sovereignty—two priorities that will only become more critical as extreme weather events disrupt traditional agriculture. The real test will be replication and integration. Can this model scale to other urban centers facing similar food security challenges? And how do we connect these distributed production nodes with the policy frameworks and procurement systems needed to make local food production a systematic solution rather than isolated innovation? #VerticalFarming #FoodSecurity #CanadianInnovation #SocialImpact #AgTech #CleanTech

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Should Rural Canada Focus on Agritech or Artisan Economies? -------------------- Canada’s rural economy is at a crossroads. Should it double down on high-tech agribusiness, or nurture a local renaissance of artisans, makers, and micro-entrepreneurs? 🌾 The Agritech Push -------------------- Agritech is booming:   Drones, AI, and sensor-based irrigation   Precision agriculture   Government investment in food security innovation  💰 Who Benefits? --------------------   Large-scale farms and VC-backed startups   Data firms and drone manufacturers 🧵 The Artisan Revival ---------------------- On the other end: rural makers, small-batch producers, and cultural heritage businesses:  -Farm-to-table cafes  -Handmade goods  -Local tourism tie-ins  🧠 Why It Matters --------------------  -Retains local character  -Low barrier to entry  -Drives social and economic inclusion 🔁 Can They Coexist? -------------------- Yes—but not without intentional policy:  -Zoning incentives for small businesses  -Micro-grants for artisan-led projects  -Agritech programs tailored for family-run farms The future of rural Canada isn't either/or—it’s both, integrated intentionally. What are your thoughts?? Do comment!!!

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Here's the thing about fresh produce in Alberta. We're paying $8 for strawberries in February that taste like cardboard and traveled 3,000+ km to get to your plate. That's broken. At Alberta Food Security Inc. we can grow 150+ varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs locally. Year-round. Backed by AI systems. With technology that cuts electricity costs dramatically. The math is simple: Local = fresher Efficient growing = lower costs Lower costs = wholesale prices, not premium retail markups. That's the problem we're solving. What's the one fruit, vegetable, or herb you've completely stopped buying because it's either too expensive or tastes like garbage every time? #Edmonton #Food #Business #Tech #AI

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Great news for Canadian entrepreneurs and businesses focused on delivering value added production of goods and services on top of our comparative advantage in providing agriculture production for export to a hungry world outside North America. Combined with Transmountain delivering growing quarterly interest and dividends to Canadian taxpayers as its cash flow, profitability and volumes expand with growth outside North America. Two great examples of how agencies of the national government are leveraging our people, know how and financial capabilities to expand export markets, growth and jobs. >>>> FCC said Friday it would invest $2-billion through to 2030 to advance agtech innovation in the country’s agri-food industry. It will invest through an array of vehicles that includes funds, direct investments and other investment structures, providing equity, convertible equity and mezzanine loans to companies ranging from pre-seed startups to later-stage enterprises that serve the sector. “There is an opportunity to increase the adoption and access to innovation of the primary producers,” said FCC executive vice-president Darren Baccus, who will oversee the program. “There is a need in this industry for meaningful capital. Canada is so uniquely positioned to be able to do this.” Despite Canada’s status as a global breadbasket, the sector attracts little risk capital. Total venture capital invested in Canadian agribusinesses totalled just $881-million over the past four years combined, according to the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA). That is less than 4 per cent of what Canada’s information and communication technology sector raised over the same period. https://lnkd.in/g64Vudbz During the quarter, $311 million was paid to its parent Canada TMP Finance Ltd., which is itself owned by the Canada Development Investment Corp. That consisted of $148 million in interest payments and $163 million in cash dividends. https://lnkd.in/gg2e-5SF

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The federal government’s recent move to close seven Agriculture Canada research stations and sharply cut departmental staff goes well beyond routine belt‑tightening. True red tape reduction means making smart cuts—streamlining where it makes sense—not slashing the core of an industry and research capacity that make Canada a world leader. This decision strikes at the very heart of our ability to innovate and compete, weakening the resilience of an agricultural sector the government itself calls vital to the nation’s economic growth and prosperity.

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🚜 Sowing Seeds of Innovation in Alberta’s AgTech Sector 🌾 Brilliant Harvest Inc. has raised $500K in seed funding from SVG Ventures’ Pioneer Fund, adding momentum to its mission of transforming agricultural operations through AI-powered tools that enhance—not replace—dealer teams. Founded by industry veteran Remi Schmaltz, the Calgary-based startup first emerged from stealth with $1.3M in backing from Builders VC and AltaML Venture Studio. Now it’s one of Alberta’s top startups to watch in 2025. SVG’s John Hartnett sums it up best: 💬 “They are solving real problems in agriculture with scalable AI-driven solutions.” This investment is not just a bet on one startup—it’s a reflection of the growing strength of Alberta’s agtech ecosystem, supported by key partners like Alberta Innovates and its Scale-Up GAP program. #AgTech #AI #StartupFunding #AlbertaInnovation #SVGVentures #BrilliantHarvest #TechForGood #FutureOfFarming #CanadianStartups https://lnkd.in/gXDrWpUf

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Doing a deep dive on the SVG Ventures | THRIVE Top 50 Agtech Companies for 2026 for FindaFarmer team. This is interesting and I'll be sharing this around with some of my farming friends and professionals in County of Grey. What is it?: The Agricultural Singularity. The "agricultural singularity" is defined as the point in time when land use for agriculture begins to shrink after expanding for thousands of years. Coined by Dr. Lenore Newman, Director of the Food & Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley, it represents a fundamental economic transformation where the sector produces more output using fewer acres, less labour, and lower resource intensity. Key aspects of this transformation include: 👉 Expanding Agriculture's Role: The singularity envisions a world where agriculture extends well beyond traditional food production to include energy, materials, and biological manufacturing. 👉 Technological Enablers: This shift is driven by foundational technologies such as automation, AI-enabled robotics, computational biology, and advanced crop inputs. 👉 Sustainability as a Prerequisite: Achieving the singularity depends on innovations that reduce the environmental impact of farming without imposing economic penalties on growers. 👉 Blended Financing: Because venture capital alone cannot fund a structural shift of this magnitude, realizing the agricultural singularity will require a "blended capital stack" that combines venture innovation with public government funding and institutional infrastructure capital. Ultimately, the agricultural singularity represents the long-term thesis beneath the current AgTech market reset, highlighting a shift toward resilient technologies that can fundamentally alter how land, labour, and food systems operate. FYI: Kristjan Hebert, Jake Leguee, Sam Duncan, Jamie Butler, Jennifer Christie Shaw, MBA, Joseph Fournier

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🚜 Bringing AI to Agriculture Recruitment: What’s the Hold-Up? AI has the power to transform how farm owners hire - and how international workers find jobs in Canada. But adoption is still slow, mainly due to limited training, unfamiliarity, and lack of resources. For small farms especially, adopting new tech can feel overwhelming. AI recruitment tools are still new, and many haven’t had the chance to explore or learn how to use them. Some farm owners simply aren’t aware of how effective these tools can be - so they hesitate to get started. Sound familiar? 👉 Follow our page for simple, practical updates on AI in hiring. 💬 Check the comments to learn about the benefits of AI. 📩 DM us to find out how AI can improve your recruitment process. ----- 🌐 Website: https://lnkd.in/gijTnBYm 📥 Fanpage: https://lnkd.in/giX3H4cE 📧 Email: agriwork.connect@gmail.com #AgriWorkConnect #humanresources #agriculture #AI #AgricultureNews #hiringnews #TheBenefitsofAIinRecruitment

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In my 12+ years in Digital Transformation I had yet to see a partner with the Ag capabilities that #TELUS has. Good news for farmers and folks who eat!

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