5 minute read
At the Intersection of Innovation and Technology
At the Intersection of Innovation and Technology in Agricultural Sector
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
More than 70 people attended InnoTech Alberta’s annual Field Day on July 27. Guests were greeted by Expert Researcher Jan Slaski, who introduced distinguished guests Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, Mayor Tim MacPhee and Alberta Innovates CEO Laura Kilcrease.
“I want to thank Alberta Innovates and CEO, my friend, Laura Kilcrease for inviting me to the event and for everyone who worked to put this field day together. I also want to acknowledge all the elected officials here today and I am grateful for all the work Alberta InnoTech does in our community.
For over 100 years InnoTech has led Alberta’s agricultural innovation….by working in conjunction with industry they have found solutions to the numerous challenges associated to advancing province’s efforts to achieve sustainability through various means of production.
Your work in the agricultural sector is something to celebrate… it provides jobs and helps strengthen our economy and leaves a legacy of food security and environmental innovation that will help future generations to succeed.
Thanks attending and hope you’ll learn more about agriculture, innovation and industry leaving you with a greater appreciation for all of the work done at this facility and our community.”
Vegreville Mayor Tim MacPhee wanted to start off by stating how proud the town is to have this facility in the community and for all of the work that’s being done. “I know a lot of times I focus more on the hemp and the research that’s being done here, but when it comes to the agricultural industry, the advancements that have been made, would not have been made without the research by all these good people that work here. So, Jan and your team, hats off to you.
The research that’s being done here is second to none; and Jan, again the hemp side is a big pusher of the hemp industry, but in partners with seed companies and chemical companies and fertilizer companies they are getting to the bottom of a lot of disease control. What they do in the different varieties of seed research in all crops is just simply amazing, and it’s making a difference in the world, what this facility does. So, thank you Laura for always being a support to InnoTech through Alberta Innovates.”
Alberta Innovates CEO Laura Kilcrease pointed out that Jackie, (ArmstrongHomeniuk) and Tim, (MacPhee) have been really steadfast friends to what we’re doing here and have enabled me and my team to support the activities going on in Vegreville.
There’s lots of farmland around here and the research that’s going on here is pretty amazing. We have smart agriculture, the intersection of innovation and our food system going on. That’s one of our five priority areas.
Agriculture generally is a really vital industry for this country and for Alberta. Believe it or not, in 2020, farms in Alberta exported 22 billion amount of food that became farm operating revenues. That’s one-quarter of all food exports for this country are coming out of this province. And so, you know we can do more if we can allow innovation and technology and pass that on to you to be able to use that innovation and that technology.
Canada’s agriculture and agri-food industry employed 2.3 million people. One in every nine jobs; and ultimately, while we were the fifth largest producer of food in the world, the eighth largest exporter, that pulled in 144 billion or roughly seven percent of this country’s GDP, (Gross Domestic Product).
So, if you have any doubt in my mind that I don’t think this is important, you would be mistaken. What we do here is exceedingly important. Not just to feed the billion dark people on the planet that are underfed, but to produce better products faster and safer, and more profitable for you, the farmer as well.
You know I could quote you many stats, we really do look at those things, but today the work that each of you do matters…It makes a big difference.
Here at InnoTech we have research and development areas like artificial intelligence, disease monitoring and crop health analysis, canola seed treatments, the identification of fungicides and herbicide efficiencies…We are the national lead in hemp varieties in North America.”
Kilcrease said they care about the land and environment and clean tech opportunities, not just emissions reduction in the oil and gas industry and energy sectors, but how they think about new opportunities coming up in the farming sector. “All this research is creating a more productive and sustainable sector and is actually forging a path forward to show the rest of the world where and how we lead.”
