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Manitoba's agriculture sector will have access to key tools to help advance the industry in the growing world of digital technology
EMILI - the Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative - will receive over $2 million in Federal/Provincial funding to advance Digital Agriculture Opportunities.
Premier Wab Kinew says he sees this investment as being key to helping the province, the ag industry and farmers adapt to new challenges and opportunities in the ever-changing digital world.
"When we think about these longer-term strategies and strategic potential that we're grappling with here in the province of Manitoba, an investment like this makes total sense. This is the application of technology to help us meet the needs of our most important trading partner South of the border, as well as our other export markets around the world. This is an application of technology that's going to make that environmental choice in the next investment that an ag producer is making more feasible, more reliable and more affordable."
He pointed out that agriculture is the backbone of the Provincial economy, and at the same time, AI is changing the world with digital technology moving forward at a relentless pace.
"With this funding, we can use artificial intelligence and machine learning to harvest new data. We can use that to inform farm practices going forward and with tech like this, we are going to be able to grow the economy, boost yields, increase sustainability, and do so many great things for not just the ag industry, and not just Manitoba, but really the entire world."
The $2 million in funding builds on the launch of EMILI's Innovation Farms Project, a 5,500-acre full-scale farming operation that is used to demonstrate and promote new processes and technologies at their location 20 minutes north west of Winnipeg.
Jacqueline Keena, managing director for EMILI says this funding increases their ability to provide all players in the ag sector with exposure and access to cutting edge equipment and emerging technologies in a commercial setting.
The backdrop for the announcement was the new 8,500-sq.-ft. Innovation Farms Centre which was officially opened Thursday.
The building features workshop space, meeting rooms, offices and a control centre where data from over 50 sensors will be displayed giving them the opportunity to analyze farm data and test technology solutions.
Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn says there's no doubt we're in a digital age and AI is going to keep coming in parts of agriculture.
"I often say the drone to me has become the MRI machine of agriculture. Who would have ever thought, 20 years ago, 10 years ago, that type of technology is becoming so important in our modern agriculture industry? And it comes with a benefit because it's able to detect diseases, able to detect a number of other areas where it saves producers a chance of their investment in drones. So new technology is as a driving force in innovation and is helping the next generation of producers."
He says EMILI will be key in helping Manitoba agriculture be on the cutting edge, grow the sector, and create more good jobs.
Jacqueline Keena, managing director for EMILI is grateful for the funding. She says it increases their ability to provide all players in the ag sector with exposure and access to cutting-edge equipment and emerging technologies in a commercial setting.
"We're thrilled to be able to contribute to that process right here at Innovation Farms powered by Ag Expert. Founded two years ago in partnership with Rutherford Farms, the site is dedicated to demonstrating and validating real-world digital agriculture solutions that will give Canadian producers the edge in a quickly changing industry."
She noted they've been able to help startups prove their technologies, provide academics with hands-on research and development support, and foster collaboration between farmers, agronomists, tech developers, teachers and students.
"Support from Manitoba agriculture has made the difference for us and their multi-year support over the years has made it possible for us to be impactful and to test and prove out technologies over multiple growing seasons."
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay says with support under Sustainable CAP, this program will help farmers in Manitoba adopt more digital technologies so they can gain valuable insights into their operations, improve their efficiency, and stay on the cutting edge.emonstrations on crops, technology and best management practices.