Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is expanding its Innovation Farm Network, a key part of its long-term strategy to make Canada a global leader in agricultural innovation and productivity.
Media Release - July 15, 2025
The network is adding a 6,000-acre farm, with 2,600-acres dedicated to potatoes, in MacGregor, Manitoba to its series of Innovation Farms, which give farmers access to trusted, practical tools to grow efficiently, build resilience and with less risk. This marks the first time a potato operation has joined the network and reflects FCC’s continued commitment to support agtech innovation that meets the needs of a wide range of producers.
The expansion is part of a multi-year partnership between FCC and EMILI, a Winnipeg-based organization focused on accelerating digital agriculture. EMILI will lead testing and validation efforts at the MacGregor site, building on the success of its Innovation Farms, its demonstration site launched in 2022.
“World leading innovation is essential to helping Canadian farmers keep pace in a highly competitive global industry. New methods and technologies in the ag and food industry keeps Canada’s economy resilient and strong” said Justine Hendricks, president and CEO of FCC. “FCC’s Innovation Farm Network and its partners are critical to delivering this vital innovation to Canadian producers when they need it the most.”
In May, FCC announced a $2-billion commitment through FCC Capital to help Canadian agtech companies bring viable, practical solutions to the market. The Innovation Farm Network is a key part of that investment strategy, offering real-world testbeds for startups while reducing the risk for farmers who want to adopt new tools.
The EMILI Innovation Farms potato site, located at the JP Wiebe Ltd. operation in MacGregor, produces a variety of Russet potatoes used in food processing. It will test five new technologies for growing potatoes, related crop rotations and irrigated crops. One of those is a sensor-based storage monitoring technology developed by Cellar Insights, an FCC Capital portfolio company. Other tools being trialed include field-scale monitoring systems such as Agi3’s CropSentry and Ukko Agro’s ForeSite software, which help collect data on growing conditions.
“With the addition of this site, we can evaluate more technologies in more settings and see how they perform in prairie conditions and on different crops,” said Jacqueline Keena, managing director of EMILI. “We’re grateful to FCC for their ongoing investment. Their multi-year commitment helps us reach more farmers and support more innovators to accelerate the adoption of on-farm technologies, ultimately making them more efficient.”
Potatoes are Canada’s most valuable vegetable crop and the fifth-largest primary agriculture crop overall. Canada ranks among the top 10 global exporters of table and seed potatoes. The potato sector is ripe for transformation through technology, particularly in areas like irrigation, water management, nutrient placement and yield optimization.
Expanding to more than 17,000 acres, the FCC Innovation Farm Network supports real-world testing of agtech innovations across Canada. Through a mix of farm types and regions, the network mirrors the diversity of Canadian agriculture, helping build confidence in innovations to lower the risk to producers of adopting new operations and processes.
FCC and EMILI will continue working together to align resources, connect innovators to testing environments and expand the network’s reach and impact. Through FCC's investment in Innovation Farms, we’re ensuring that Canadian farmers have access to the tools and insights they need to thrive.