British Columbia farmers are integrating cutting-edge technology to boost their farm productivity and enhance food security, thanks to federal and provincial funding.
The BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program, supported by Innovate BC, enables farmers to adopt automation, robotics, and innovative growing solutions, addressing labour challenges and increasing food production.
“Our farmers work hard every day to grow top-quality products,” says Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “With investments through the BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program, more of British Columbia’s farmers have been able to make improvements on their farms that will allow them to become more efficient and keep feeding their communities.”
The program facilitates the purchase and installation of advanced farming equipment.
For instance, Van Eekelen Enterprises Ltd. in the Fraser Valley acquired a robotic weeder named “Robot One,” which uses machine learning to distinguish between crops and weeds, selectively eliminating the latter.
This technology significantly reduces labour costs and the need for herbicides, enhancing the farm’s profitability.
Marinus Van Eekelen, operations manager at Van Eekelen Enterprises Ltd., notes, “The program allowed us to purchase leading-edge technology that has the potential to vastly reduce our labour costs related to weeding. By being early adopters of technology, we can continue to provide high-quality produce to consumers in BC and elsewhere.”
Similarly, Sandhar Farms in Kelowna introduced a fruit-picking platform for its orchard.
This innovation, a rarity in BC, boosts efficiency and safety by eliminating ladders, improving worker conditions, and reducing fruit damage during harvest. This platform is also valuable for year-round farm activities.
In Delta, Camirlaney Farms received funding to upgrade its potato storage facilities with digital sensors and computer panels to monitor and control storage conditions, reducing crop loss due to moisture and decay.
Pam Alexis, BC’s Minister of Agriculture and Food, highlights the program's impact: “Integrating new agritech on farms means farmers can improve how they plant, grow, harvest, pack, and store the food they produce, which allows them to grow their businesses and provide for the communities they live in. By helping farmers purchase and install equipment that boosts their efficiency and bottom line, we are strengthening food security and production in BC.”
The BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program is part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3.5-billion initiative aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and resilience of Canada’s agriculture sector.