Abby Sim
“N2O and the Chamber(s) of Secrets“
Abby Sim, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 31, 2024 from 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 3
CEU Credit:
In 2023, OCCI conducted a small plot fertilizer rate trial to look at the connection between Right Rate and the impact on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Come to the session to learn about their first year of using an automated emissions monitoring system.
Abby Sim is a Project Lead with Smart Ag Applied Research team at Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI). Abby grew up on a farm in central Alberta which inspired her love for both science and agriculture. She attended Mount Royal University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree. Abby previously worked in the barley and triticale breeding program at the Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) in Lacombe, Alta. Her current role focuses on improving and evaluating agricultural technologies in the field.
“Better Disease Risk Assessment – A Pan Canadian Smart Farm Network Collaboration“
Adrienne Levay, Lakeland College, Christina Kaye, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology & Blake Weiseth, Glacier FarmMedia Discovery Farm
July 30 from 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 2
The session will look at why there is a need for both CEA and traditional farming in Alberta, and will explore regional innovative research being done to help grow the industry to increase productivity
“Fundamentals of Farm Data: Building Data Literacy Among Producers”
Adrienne Levay, Lakeland College
July 30 from 3 pm – 3:45 pm in Tent 3
This session introduces the Fundamentals of Farm Data Literacy continuing education modules released in 2023. Led by EMILI Canada, in collaboration with Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Lakeland College, Assiniboine College and the Community Safety Knowledge Alliance, it is designed to enhance the ability of agricultural workers to engage in the data-driven economy. This program provides essential training on agriculture data, including sources, quality, privacy, and cybersecurity. It features practical activities and worksheets, empowering farmers to make informed decisions about digital agriculture technology. The program offers four modules: Data 101, Data in Agriculture, Working with Your Data, and Cybersecurity.
Adrienne Levay graduated with a PhD in Integrated Studies in Land and Food Systems from the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems in 2018. She is a two-time Canadian Institutes of Health Research Awardee and was a 4-Year Fellow at the University of British Columbia. Her research interests have included gender and food insecurity in the global south, government school nutrition policy, health ethics, ethics of technology and innovation, developing data-enabled innovations, data literacy and realist methodologies. Currently, she is an Instructor & Researcher at Lakeland College in Alberta, Canada, creating and delivering curriculum for the new Bachelor of Agriculture Technology Degree.
“Preventing Digital Fraud on the Farm”
Anton Bellot, ATB
July 30: 11 am – 11:45 am
With rapid advancements in agtech and banking technology, producers need to remain vigilant to keep up with security threats and prevent fraud. Don’t fall victim to these increasingly intelligent scams we’ll cover in this session with Anton Bellot, Director Agribusiness & Agri-Food Sector, ATB Business.
Anton Bellot specializes in advising clients throughout the agriculture value chain as the Director of Agribusiness and Agri-food at ATB. From ag inputs and controlled environment agriculture to value-added ag manufacturing and ag technology, Anton brings a breadth of industry expertise in developing optimal financial solutions for clients. His understanding of market conditions, including foreign exchange, changing customer sentiment and trade, is invaluable to clients making key financial decisions for expansion and acquisition.
Anton has worked in financial services for over 7 years, bringing experience across financial structures and industries. He has a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the Haskayne School of Business and is a University of Calgary Dinos football alumni. He is currently the head coach of the Airdrie Irish and linebacker coach of the Calgary Colts.
Blair Bateman
“Pros and cons of conducting on-farm research: A dilemma faced by farmers and how technology can help us.“
Blair Bateman & Felippe Karp, Olds College of Agriculture & Jeremy Boychryn, Alberta Grains
July 30 from 3 pm – 3:45 pm
How OCCI and Alberta Grains are using the On-Farm Precision Experimentation tool called Data-Intensive Farm Management to introduce a new methodology for conducting field-scale trials, raise industry awareness of the new method, generate interest from producers wanting to be involved in the 2025 growing season, and provide an understanding of the process of creating OFPE trials.
“Better Disease Risk Assessment – A Pan Canadian Smart Farm Network Collaboration“
Adrienne Levay, Lakeland College, Christina Kaye, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology & Blake Weiseth, Glacier FarmMedia Discovery Farm
July 30 from 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 2
The session will look at why there is a need for both CEA and traditional farming in Alberta, and will explore regional innovative research being done to help grow the industry to increase productivity
Blake grew up on a mixed grain and livestock farm near Shaunavon, SK. He holds a joint role of Applied Research lead at Glacier FarmMedia Discovery Farm and Research Chair at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and is currently pursuing a PhD in Soil Science from the University of Saskatchewan working under the supervision of Drs. Jeff Schoenau and Jane Elliott. He is a Professional Agrologist (PAg) with the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists and was recognized by the institution as the 2024 Outstanding Young Agrologist. His research focuses on evaluating agricultural management practices and emerging technologies for their ability to optimize water and nutrient use efficiency while limiting nutrient losses in runoff water.
“From Idea to Impact: Building Startups with Purpose”
Bre Walkeden, Cultivator, Robert Saik, AGvisorPRO, Megan Croft Shapka, SVG Thrive, Rakesh Bhat, Discovery Lab & Dana Gibson, AB Innovates
July 31 from 3 pm – 3:45 pm in Tent 2
Join us for an engaging panel discussion where leading incubators and accelerators discuss their strategies for supporting high-growth agtech companies at the forefront of agricultural innovation. This session will explore the unique challenges and opportunities within the agtech sector, highlighting success stories and the pivotal role these organizations play in nurturing the startups that are revolutionizing the agriculture industry. Panelists will share insights into mentorship, funding, networking, and the essential resources they provide to help agtech companies thrive in a competitive market.
Bre Walkeden is a Regina based leader, passionate about all things community, connection and innovation. In her role at Cultivator, Bre helps to grow the SK tech and agriculture eco-system through supporting innovative startups and founders to START, GROW and SCALE their companies. Through the AGTECH ACCELERATOR program, Cultivator supports top agtech startups from across Canada and beyond to improve the future of agriculture. She loves building meaningful partnerships and bringing people together to work towards the same goal.
“Back to the Future – Advancements in AgTech”
Brent Nicol & Ryan Follack, Brandt Tractor Ltd.
July 30 from 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 3
The John Deere technology package continues to be the cutting-edge in the Precision agriculture space. With these continued advancements, the Brandt team will showcase some of the latest technology and what we can expect in the future.
Brittani Edge
“Lessons from Eight Years of OFPE: Tips and Stories from the Data-Intensive Farm Management Project“
Brittani Edge, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
July 30 from 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 1
Brittani Edge is an agricultural economist working as a postdoctoral research associate with the Data Intensive Farm Management project at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She worked as a research associate for the project while completing her Ph.D. and stayed on after finishing her degree in 2022. Her specialization is on-farm precision experiments, with experience in trial design, data processing, and data analysis. She is interested in questions about how variables such as trial implementation, experimental design, or data processing impact the quality of analysis results and how precision agriculture technology, through experimentation or variable-rate application, can improve management decisions and farm profitability.
“The Importance of Digitization“
Bryan Prystupa, FCC AgExpert
July 30 from 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 3
July 31 from 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 3
You make decisions about your farm every day no matter where you are, so your farm data doesn’t just belong in the office—it belongs with you. Join us to learn how digitizing your farm records can help you prepare for the future and enhance strategic decision-making on your farm.
Bryan is a Senior Product Owner with the FCC AgExpert team, who has collaborated with partners and companies across Canada to develop integrations that help producers use digitized farm data through MyFarmConnect. Bryan’s new role includes helping Canadian farmers grow their on-farm sustainability knowledge. He’s passionate about helping advance Canadian agriculture and food through technology solutions.
Cam Cote
“Working Together to Build the Future of Ag Tech”
Cam Cote, Intelirain Inc, Karen Schuett, Livestock Water Recycling & Jason Lenz, AgSmart Industry Advisory Group
July 31: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 2
Join a panel of AgSmart Parnters to discuss how companies of different backgrounds can work together to solve the challenges facing producers and industry in the Ag Tech world.
Cam has focused his 30-year career in fluid dynamics on several new product innovations. He has been granted multiple patents on both air flow and fluid dynamics on innovative products that have been launched in many markets. He now combines his quest for water conservation with his vision for advancements in fluid dynamics in the creation of the InteliRain Irrigation system. He has recently received an ATB Innovation Award and a Canada 150 Award for this revolutionary approach to turf and agricultural irrigation. Cam has also dedicated 30 years to coaching youth sports.
“Energy Efficient On-Farm Grain Drying Approaches“
Dr. Chandra Singh, Lethbridge College
July 31: 3 pm – 3:45 pm in Tent 4
Presentation will cover Alberta wide on-farm grain drying studies comparing the performances of different grain drying approaches (in-bin natural air drying, high temperature drying, and combination drying), energy efficiency, and estimated cost of wheat drying with incremental Cabon levy on dryer fuel (natural gas).
Dr. Chandra Singh is Senior Research Chair in Agricultural Engineering and Technology at the Lethbridge College in Alberta, Canada. He recently founded Advanced Postharvest Technology Centre at the college. He conducts research on postharvest storage and handling of grains, sugar beets and potatoes, natural air drying, aeration, mathematical modelling, sensing, automation, machine learning, and non-destructive quality evaluation of agri-food products using NIR hyperspectral imaging.
Prior to joining Lethbridge College, he was Associate Professor of Stored Grains Facilities at the University of South Australia. Earlier he worked as a Principal Engineer-Grain Management with a Calgary-based world-leading advanced grain management technology company. Dr. Singh obtained his Ph.D. in Biosystems Engineering from the University of Manitoba. He completed his masters in Postharvest Engineering from IIT Kharagpur and bachelor in Agricultural Engineering from G.B Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, India.
“Better Disease Risk Assessment – A Pan Canadian Smart Farm Network Collaboration“
Adrienne Levay, Lakeland College, Christina Kaye, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology & Blake Weiseth, Glacier FarmMedia Discovery Farm
July 30: 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 2
The session will look at why there is a need for both CEA and traditional farming in Alberta, and will explore regional innovative research being done to help grow the industry to increase productivity
Christina Kaye is a Project Lead with Smart Agriculture at OCCI. Her job is focused on leading, planning, executing and producing final deliverables for applied research projects. Some of the projects she enjoys the most involve collecting and analyzing agricultural equipment data, disease distribution, crop health and agronomic sensor ground truthing.
Christina’s favourite part of her job is field work, along with teaching students and seasonal employees about crop science. She enjoys the diversity of her job and how it’s always changing, and likes contributing to the overall adoption of ag technologies by discovering how they can benefit producers.
When clients come to OCCI about an applied research opportunity, Christina takes their intake forms and helps build the project proposals, charters, and protocols to ensure the projects get planned and executed for the best results. Christina enjoys working with the entire OCCI team and welcomes how everyone’s diverse backgrounds and experiences contribute to the projects by bringing forward new and creative ideas and concepts.
“From Idea to Impact: Building Startups with Purpose”
Bre Walkeden, Cultivator, Robert Saik, AGvisorPRO, Megan Croft Shapka, SVG Thrive, Rakesh Bhat, Discovery Lab & Dana Gibson, AB Innovates
July 31 from 3 pm – 3:45 pm in Tent 2
Join us for an engaging panel discussion where leading incubators and accelerators discuss their strategies for supporting high-growth agtech companies at the forefront of agricultural innovation. This session will explore the unique challenges and opportunities within the agtech sector, highlighting success stories and the pivotal role these organizations play in nurturing the startups that are revolutionizing the agriculture industry. Panelists will share insights into mentorship, funding, networking, and the essential resources they provide to help agtech companies thrive in a competitive market.
Dana has worked in the agri-food industry for the past 20 years and has experience on the floor, in both meat and dairy processing. She paid her dues on the plant floor working all hours to learn about creating and running quality assurance programs, sanitation programs and production scheduling.
Dana transitioned to food product development as a research scientist at Alberta’s Food Processing Development Centre in Leduc, where she focused on meat science and ready meals. Through this experience, she learned that although most food products could be made it was much harder to sell them. This marked her shift into business development where she worked with agriculture and food companies across Alberta to coach them in market development, network development and accessing resources and grants.
From there Dana moved into grant administration where she worked with agriculture and food companies to develop grant applications and fund automation, innovation, market development, and training projects.
Dana returned to research with NAIT’s Centre for Culinary Innovation where she and her team provided chef-inspired bench-top product development that put flavour, aroma and eating experience at the forefront of all projects.
Now at Alberta Innovates, Dana is excited to work on technology and innovation projects across the agriculture and food value-chain to see the sector grow and diversify.
Dana has a passion for agriculture and food and loves seeing made-in-Alberta solutions in the areas of clean tech, food tech and sustainability. She believes that food is something we all have in common and is a great place for building connection and community.
“The Birds & The Bees: Making Better Use of Marginal Cropland“
Daniel Stefner, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 30: 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 4
A conversation you likely never had with your dad.
Together with FCC, Olds College Centre for Innovation has been working to identify alternative production and management strategies to better utilize marginal cropland. Over the last two years we’ve identified: tools to delineate areas of marginal land, alternative management strategies, economic impacts and benefits, incentives available for marginal land conversion, and methods to measure impact.
Join us to learn what we’re learning, about strategies, resources, anticipated benefits, steps we are taking on the Smart Farm, and how you can apply this on your own ground.
Daniel Stefner comes from a farm family just north of Edmonton, where he grew up loving to be a part of all things happening on the farm. After acquiring his IT diploma at NAIT, he earned his Ag Management diploma and B.A.Sc, in Agribusiness at Olds College. He continued his career with the Olds College Centre for Innovation, where he now resides in Olds and serves as a Smart Ag Applied Research Project Lead. Daniel’s main focuses of research include add-on technologies for existing farm equipment, drone and satellite imagery applications, and the use of in-field sensors.
David Guthrie
“Seeds of Success: Understanding governance and integration to improve operational capability“
David Guthrie & Matthew Harrison, KPMG
July 31: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 1
You may be exploring new technologies or have already begun your transformation journey. Do you understand what governance means, how your systems speak to each other, and how you might utilize the data that may already exist in your IT environment?
Agriculture technology (“AgTech”) has the potential to improve efficiency, sustainability, transparency, and traceability in the sector, and is changing rapidly to meet the needs of producers and agribusinesses. However, technology is not a catch-all, one-time solution that you can set up and then ignore. After implementing new technology solutions, it’s crucial to make sure that you have a plan for governance and how to maximize the usefulness of your data and ensure that your systems can interact with each other effectively to fulfill your business requirements.
This educational session will provide some food for thought on governance, as well as tangible examples of what you might look at when evaluating the integration and outputs of your current systems and how you can use those to better improve your business.
David is a Partner in KPMG’s Enterprise practice and is the National Agribusiness Leader for KPMG in Canada. David works with clients throughout the Agribusiness value chain including producers, food processors, marketing boards, other input providers and not-for-profit organizations.
David works with clients as the Farm of the Future evolves with digital/technology innovation and ESG strategies including sustainability reporting.
Areas of focus: Dairy, Poultry, Greenhouses, Agricultural Organizations and AgriStability
Doug Colwell
“Livestock Parasites: A look inside“
Doug Colwell, LzTC Consulting
July 31: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 5
A tour of the major parasites that live with livestock and reduce their productivity or welfare through direct or indirect effects. Included are the major nematodes of the gastrointestinal tract, lung worms, tapeworms and liver flukes
Dr. Colwell’s first years were spent on the family farm near Cremona, Alberta which had been homesteaded by his great-grandfather in 1903. Later, educational travels took him to Calgary and then to Lethbridge to complete his B.Sc. It was at the U. of L. where he first became enthralled by parasites and parasitism. Subsequently, University of Alberta broadened his experience with parasites. University of Guelph and insects, particularly those that feed on animal tissue, rounded out his student experience. Dr. Colwell’s exposure to cattle and the insects that affect their welfare and productivity began at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research and Development Centre. Curiosity about the endless variety of host-parasite interactions and the possibilities for improving animal production without complete dependence on chemical control has fueled his research program and will likely do so for some time. This curiosity has allowed collaborations with a variety of stimulating and inquisitive colleagues from around the world and has resulted in over 130 publications in refereed journals, several book chapters and one book. Being an editor for scientific journals has been a great experience as have his associations with the University of Lethbridge and the University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. International societies such as the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology, the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists and the European College of Veterinary Parasitology has kept Dr. Colwell busy. A small ranch on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains allows the enjoyment of life at a different pace in an off- the-grid, straw bale house.
Dr. Désirée Gellatly
“Understanding Cattle Behavior: Insights and Techniques for Low-Stress Handling“
Dr. Désirée Gellatly, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 31: 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 5
This educational session will cover the following topics:
1. Deep Understanding of Cattle Behavior and Temperament
2. Implementation of Low-Stress Handling Techniques
3. Adoption of Safe Handling Practices
4. Application of Stress-Minimization Methods
Evan Buie
“From Farm to Future: AgTech Opportunities for Canadian Companies in Latin America“
Evan Buie, Global Affairs Canada & Juan Higuera, Cannexion Corporation
July 31: 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 2
This panel session will delve into the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of agricultural technology, focusing on the significant opportunities available for Canadian companies in Latin America. This panel will explore how Canadian innovations in AgTech can address the unique challenges and leverage the abundant agricultural potential of the Latin American market. Industry experts, and business leaders will share insights on market entry strategies, collaborative ventures, and the role of sustainable practices in driving growth. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on how to navigate this promising frontier and capitalize on emerging trends to foster cross-border agricultural advancements.
Evan Buie is a Trade Commissioner with Global Affairs Canada in the Regional Office for Alberta and the Northwest Territories. In his current role, Evan works with agtech and agriculture companies to help them succeed in foreign marketplaces. Evan’s previous experience includes working in various roles for the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Agriculture’s Export Development team, CPG sales, and teaching English in Japan. Evan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and graduated top of his class with an MBA in International Business Management & Innovation from the Barcelona Executive Business School.
Felippe Karp, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 31: 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 1
Proper management of soil fertility can generate benefits for farmers (e.g., higher yields or lower input costs), society, and the environment (e.g., higher quality food and water, lower environmental impacts, etc.). However, a successful soil management strategy depends on knowing the fertility conditions of the soil. Traditionally, this information is obtained by taking soil cores from the field, mixing them, preparing a composite sample, and sending it for lab analysis.
Lately, with advancements in technology and precision agriculture practices, zone or grid sampling has become a popular approach – multiple samples are used to create a soil fertility map within a field. Also, techniques involving the combination of soil sampling and the use of sensors to map fields have been researched, and some solutions are available on the market. During this session, an analysis of how different soil sampling strategies can affect management decisions and the latest advances in soil fertility mapping will be discussed – including the presentation of exciting results obtained through the HyperLayer Data Concept project developed at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. The achievement of the HyperLayer project represents early results but has proven its potential to be a promising solution to challenges faced by the ag industry concerning soil fertility mapping.
“Pros and cons of conducting on-farm research: A dilemma faced by farmers and how technology can help us.“
Blair Bateman & Felippe Karp, Olds College of Agriculture & Jeremy Boychryn, Alberta Grains
July 30 from 3 pm – 3:45 pm
How OCCI and Alberta Grains are using the On-Farm Precision Experimentation tool called Data-Intensive Farm Management to introduce a new methodology for conducting field-scale trials, raise industry awareness of the new method, generate interest from producers wanting to be involved in the 2025 growing season, and provide an understanding of the process of creating OFPE trials.
Gail Powley, Technology Alberta & Lorna Baird, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 31: 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 2
This Panel will share learnings from the last 35 years of ASTech (Alberta Science & Technology Leadership) Awards – with a focus on Alberta’s Award Winners in Agriculture. From researchers who have addressed crop disease issues, to farmers who have collaborated with colleges to try new approaches, to livestock production innovation – this panel will share what went well for them, what programs and collaborations that they would recommend to others, what they might do differently, and what excites them about AgTech in the future.
Gail Powley is an industrial automation engineer, President of Technology Alberta, and Executive Director of the ASTech Awards (the Alberta Science and Technology Leadership Awards). With over 30 years of experience working for entrepreneurial innovative tech companies, government innovation agencies, academic diversity initiatives, and on advanced control applications for industry leaders like Suncor, BP, and Inco nationally – Gail has found great enjoyment in getting to her roots, where her family had farms in the Lloydminster and Vegreville areas. Seeing the sophistication in Smart Farms compare well with industrial control rooms, AgSmart has become one of her – and the Alberta innovation Systems – “must attend” events. Through Technology Alberta and the ASTech Awards – and their focus on Talent, Learning, and Community – Gail enjoys bringing innovators together to showcase the strength that Alberta’s rural problem-solvers can bring to the provincial stage – by partnering with the Alberta Innovates Regional Innovation Networks (RIN’s) across the province.
“AgTech Frontier: Elevating Alberta’s Digital Agriculture and Competitive Edge“
Hanan Ishaque, The Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy
July 30: 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 4
Ready to dive into the realm of agtech and its implications for our province’s competitiveness? In this 45-minute session, we will discuss the latest agtech innovations in Canada. Experts from the Simpson Centre’s Alberta Agriculture Digitalization Program and Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) will dissect policies alongside comparable economies to glean valuable lessons for enhancing our competitive edge in the agtech sector. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the future of agriculture in Alberta and discover how we can navigate the evolving landscape of digital innovation together.
As a Senior Policy Analyst, he is spearheading the research component of the Alberta Digitalization Agriculture (ABDIAG) project. Currently, he is engaged in mapping smart agriculture technologies and tools, as well as analyzing the behavioral aspects of Canadian producers’ decision-making regarding digital technology adoption.
Herman Simons
“Capitalizing on field variability. Should you implement VR fertilizer application?“
Herman Simons, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 30: 11 am – 11:45 am
A low adoption rate of VR application of fertilizer suggests many producers are still to be convinced to make the jump to implementation. Field variability is considered the main factor impacting the return on investment for implementation of VR fertilizer.
In this session we will be exploring the the opportunities and challenges for those still on the fence.
Herman was born and raised on a farm in the Netherlands and the youngest of five children. He always had a soft spot for Canada and recalls sending hand-written letters to the Canadian embassy asking questions about Canada at 12 years old — foreseeing this would be his future home.
Herman first stepped foot in Canada in 1986 and worked for a few months on a farm in Alberta. After completing his degree in Agricultural Business Management in the Netherlands, Herman returned by participating in the Young Farmers Exchange Program and landed back in Alberta in 1988. He decided to stay, and happily his future wife moved to Canada to be with him after she finished university back in Holland.
Over the years, Herman’s career in Canada evolved from farmhand, to owning and operating his own farm for over 25 years, to representing farmers at provincial and national levels and as a farm management consultant in the private and public sector. Herman has experienced the ebbs and flows in the agriculture industry over the past few decades, and finds it rewarding to be in this exciting and positive space at Olds College that has great potential and significance for the future of agriculture. Variable Rate Application and field variability is just one of the many areas the OCCI team is conducting applied research in.
Ike Edeougu
Ike Edeougu & Shabeg Briar, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 30: 3 pm – 3:45 am in Tent 4
Biostimulants may play a crucial role in revolutionizing agriculture towards sustainability by enhancing productivity, resilience, and soil health. Through innovative formulations derived from natural sources like plants, microbes, and seaweed extracts, biostimulants optimize nutrient uptake, mitigate stress, and enhance plant growth. Does the integration of biostimulants into crop production signify a promising pathway towards sustainable crop production, aligning with environmental stewardship and food security?
Ike Edeogu is the Applied Research Manager for crop research and environmental stewardship with Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI). Ike is passionate about research that can benefit agricultural producers.
Ike has always been interested and driven by research, technology development, and technology integration that can solve problems within the agriculture industry and make a genuine difference to producers. He enjoys that every workday is different, tasks are always changing, and what you’re involved in and working on truly makes a difference in the bottom line for farmers and rural communities.
Ike is a professional engineer (P.Eng.) with an M.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Alberta. Prior to joining Olds College in 2020, Ike worked with Alberta’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for about 25 years in the application of applied research and innovation techniques and principles towards the advancement of Alberta’s agricultural sector. He has a vast network of professional contacts from across the private sector, academia, government, and non-government organizations — both across Canada and abroad.
Jason Lenz
“Working Together to Build the Future of Ag Tech”
Cam Cote, Intelirain Inc & Karen Schuett, Livestock Water Recycling, Jason Lenz
July 31: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 2
Join a panel of AgSmart Parnters to discuss how companies of different backgrounds can work together to solve the challenges facing producers and industry in the Ag Tech world.
Jenna Sarich, Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
July 31: 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 5
A status check on sustainability in the Canadian beef industry including results from the CRSB’s 2nd National Beef Sustainability Assessment covering environmental, social and economic indicators, as well as the benefits of having beef cattle on the land in Canada.
Dr. Jennifer Zantinge
Marc Zienkiewicz, Alberta Seed Guide, Jeremy Boychyn, Alberta Grains, Lori Oatway, Western Crop Innovations, & Dr. Jennifer Zantinge, Western Crop Innovations
July 30: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 2
Brought to you by the Alberta Seed Guide, join us for an engaging panel discussion exploring the transformative power of technology in the realm of seed development and agricultural innovation.
Dr. J. Zantinge serves as a research scientist and leads the Western Crop Innovation biotech lab. The lab specializes in translational research, focusing on identifying, developing, validating, and implementing new research technologies and tools to enhance the quality and efficiency of variety development processes. Dr. Zantinge’s research group is dedicated to employing molecular and bioinformatics techniques to identify QTLs, genes, and haplotypes associated with trait variation. The biotech lab supports breeders by developing genetic markers to predict disease resistance, quality traits, and yield.
Jeremy Boychyn
Marc Zienkiewicz, Alberta Seed Guide, Jeremy Boychyn, Alberta Grains, Lori Oatway, Western Crop Innovations, & Dr. Jennifer Zantinge, Western Crop Innovations
July 30: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 2
Brought to you by the Alberta Seed Guide, join us for an engaging panel discussion exploring the transformative power of technology in the realm of seed development and agricultural innovation.
“Pros and cons of conducting on-farm research: A dilemma faced by farmers and how technology can help us.“
Blair Bateman & Felippe Karp, Olds College of Agriculture & Jeremy Boychryn, Alberta Grains
July 30 from 3 pm – 3:45 pm
How OCCI and Alberta Grains are using the On-Farm Precision Experimentation tool called Data-Intensive Farm Management to introduce a new methodology for conducting field-scale trials, raise industry awareness of the new method, generate interest from producers wanting to be involved in the 2025 growing season, and provide an understanding of the process of creating OFPE trials.
Jeremy Boychyn is the current Interim Director of Research for Alberta Grains. He grew up in a small horticulture farm in Ontario before completing his Bachelors in Horticultural Science and a Masters in Plant Physiology at the University of Guelph. Starting with Alberta Grains in 2018, Jeremy drove the development of the commission’s extension program. Now as interim Director of Research, Jeremy works to ensure the research funding from Alberta Grains is valuable to Alberta producers while ensuring a strong extension funnel so the results of that research reaches the farmgate.
John Basarab
“Adoption of Genomic Tools project“
Dr. John Basarab & Tiago Valente, Livestock Gentec
July 31: 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 4
Join John Basarab & Tiago S. Valente to learn more about the “Adoption of Genomic Tools project”.
Genomic tools and accuracy of MBVs for economically important traits continue to improve for application in the commercial crossbred beef cattle industry. John will discuss how genomic breed composition, genomic Hybrid Vigour Score, the Replacement Heifer Index Score™ and the Feeder Profit Index™ can be used to improve female fertility, stayability, lifetime productivity, profitability and sustainability. He will also discuss the newly funded RDAR S-CAP project on “Adoption of Genomic Tools” and how producers can receive an incentivized price for genomic services and genotyping the key animals within their beef herd.
John is the RDAR Research Professor of Beef Cattle Genetics at the University of Alberta and has over 30 years experience in beef cattle production and management. His current areas of work include improving feed efficiency, delivering genomic and production technologies to the beef industry, and greenhouse gas mitigation in beef cattle. Work completed has included the development of one of the largest genotype-phenotype databases for beef cattle in Canada for genetic marker discovery, global collaborations, and validation of the genomic tools like EnVigour HXTM. He is CEO of Livestock Gentec, and past Associate Editor for the Canadian Journal of Animal Science. He is also the author or co-author of more than 300 scientific and extension articles, winner of the 2010 Canadian Animal Industries Award in Extension and Public Service and co-recipient of the 2023 ASTech Award for best in Agriculture. John received his Ph.D. degree in Animal Genetics and Biochemistry in 1981 from the University of Alberta.
Dr. Joy Agnew
“Technology Readiness vs Readiness for Technology“
Dr. Joy Agnew, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 30: 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 1
Ag technologies are developing at an exponential rate, but adoption rates and measurable impacts such as ROI and improved sustainability are not keeping pace. This presentation will dive into two key barriers to adoption: 1) inconsistent supports and programs to ensure users are ready to adopt technologies and 2) inability to measure and monitor adoption rates in real time to assess efficacy of measures to support technology readiness and adoption. Opportunities to ensure the “adoption ecosystem” is understood and supported similar to the “innovation ecosystem” will also be discussed.
Joy grew up on a grain farm near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and earned her Ph.D. in Ag/Bio Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. At Olds College of Agriculture and Technology, Joy is the Vice President, Research / Executive Offices and oversees the applied research portfolio and smart farm operations. Applied research at Olds College is focused crop and livestock production with a specialty in technology integration and data utilization to improve productivity and sustainability of food production. Joy also has a leadership role in the development of the College’s Smart Ag Ecosystem, bringing together the academic programming, applied research, strategic partnerships, smart farm operations, and extension & communication activities to help the College meet its goal to be a leader in Smart Agriculture. In 2021, Joy was named one of Canada’s top 50 most influential people in Canadian Ag by Canadian Western Agribition.
“Harvesting Innovation: Bridging Traditional and Controlled Environment Agriculture”
Joya Sauder, PrairiesCan, Richard Gibson, Controlled Environment Agriculture Association of Alberta, Ray Price, Sunterra Group, Ryan Wright, NuLeaf Farms & Ronan Mackey, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 30: 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 2
The session will look at why there is a need for both CEA and traditional farming in Alberta, and will explore regional innovative research being done to help grow the industry to increase productivity
Joya Sauder, Senior Business Officer, Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) Joya has been working in economic development for the past six years. In her role at PrairiesCan (a federal regional development department) she leads the department’s internal value-added agriculture strategic team. Joya is responsible for managing agriculture-related economic development projects and investments for Southern Alberta. She has had past careers in international development and marketing communications.
Juan Higuera
“From Farm to Future: AgTech Opportunities for Canadian Companies in Latin America“
Evan Buie, Global Affairs Canada & Juan Higuera, Cannexion Corporation
July 31: 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 2
This panel session will delve into the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of agricultural technology, focusing on the significant opportunities available for Canadian companies in Latin America. This panel will explore how Canadian innovations in AgTech can address the unique challenges and leverage the abundant agricultural potential of the Latin American market. Industry experts, and business leaders will share insights on market entry strategies, collaborative ventures, and the role of sustainable practices in driving growth. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on how to navigate this promising frontier and capitalize on emerging trends to foster cross-border agricultural advancements.
Kaitlyn Kitzan
“Preventing Burnout“
Kaitlyn Kitzan, The Do More Agriculture Foundation
July 31: 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 4
In today’s fast-paced agricultural industry, burnout has become an increasingly prevalent concern. Join us for an interactive session designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools necessary to combat burnout effectively in the agricultural sector.
Kaitlyn Kitzan is a dedicated professional deeply connected to agriculture. Raised on a mixed farm near Yorkton, Saskatchewan, she remains actively engaged in her family’s grain and cattle operations. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Agri-business from the University of Saskatchewan.
Kaitlyn worked at Glacier FarmMedia as a marketing and communications coordinator before expanding her expertise with Discovery Farm, Ag in Motion, and Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show. In 2023, she launched her own consulting company, offering strategic solutions to organizations.
Passionate about community involvement, Kaitlyn dedicates her time to organizations like the Yorkton Exhibition Association and Ag in the Classroom, alongside supporting mental health initiatives like the Elias Giannoulis Memorial Hockey Tournament. She also actively contributes to Do More Ag, advocating for mental health awareness and support within the agricultural community.
In leadership roles, Kaitlyn serves as Director and Treasurer for the Wheat Growers Association and Saskatchewan Chair for Equal Voice. She co-founded Sask Girls United and represented Canadian agriculture internationally in China, Peru, and India.
Recognized for her contributions, Kaitlyn was nominated for the Young Women of Distinction award in Saskatchewan. With a relentless commitment to agriculture, community, and mental health advocacy, Kaitlyn continues to make a profound impact through her leadership and dedication.
Karen Schuett
“Working Together to Build the Future of Ag Tech”
Cam Cote, Intelirain Inc, Karen Schuett, Livestock Water Recycling & Jason Lenz, AgSmart Industry Advisory Group
July 31: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 2
Join a panel of AgSmart Parnters to discuss how companies of different backgrounds can work together to solve the challenges facing producers and industry in the Ag Tech world.
Kayla Sarvas
“Sharing your Ag story In a Digital World”
Shannon Torgerson & Kayla Sarvas, Oh Sheep Sh*t
July 31 from 3 pm – 3:45 pm in Tent 3
Shannon and Kayla will chat with you about how they chose to share their journey on social media and the opportunities and exposure they’ve received. They’ll discuss the importance of speaking positively online about raising sheep to combat the negative stereotypes of raising lamb in Canada.
Laio Silva Sobrinho
“Olds College of Agriculture & Technology”
Laio Silva Sobrinho, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 31: 3 pm – 3:45 pm in Tent 5
Rapid, on-farm nitrate testing kits for forages provide a cost-effective and time-saving solution for Alberta cattle producers. The Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP) at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology conducted a study to validate the accuracy and practicality of three commercially available rapid nitrate test kits. The study’s methodology and key findings will be discussed, highlighting the benefits of these kits, such as improved feed management, increased testing frequency, and reduced risk of nitrate toxicity in cattle herds. Producers will learn how these kits can be effectively integrated into their feed management strategies.
Laio Silva Sobrinho, Research Manager at the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production, holds an MSc in Soil Science from the University of Alberta, where he studied the effect of adaptive rotational grazing systems on the sequestration of carbon in Canadian grasslands. He is responsible for managing research trials on projects that test and validate technologies with the potential to improve productivity and sustainability on-farm. Growing up in a family of cattle producers in Brazil, Laio gained hands-on experience in herd and pasture management, which informs his current work in Canada.
Lori Oatway
Marc Zienkiewicz, Alberta Seed Guide, Jeremy Boychyn, Alberta Grains, Lori Oatway, Western Crop Innovations, & Dr. Jennifer Zantinge, Western Crop Innovations
July 30: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 2
Brought to you by the Alberta Seed Guide, join us for an engaging panel discussion exploring the transformative power of technology in the realm of seed development and agricultural innovation.
Lori Oatway is a highly experienced Cereal Scientist with over 30 years of expertise in cereal quality and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). As a Research Scientist at Western Crop Innovation in Lacombe, Alberta, Lori leads the Quality Program that is responsible for evaluating new grain and forage varieties for quality traits. Over her career, Lori has developed NIRS to expand the quality program to include feed, forage, food and malting characteristics and she works closely with industry stakeholders to identify new traits for markets and applications. Lori believes collaboration is key to strengthening our industry and enjoys sharing her knowledge and time with farm, science, and education communities. In addition to her work at FCDC, Lori, her husband Ward and daughters Ezri and Brie, farm just south of Clive, producing and selling pedigree seed. This provides a practical application to the research that Lori works on daily.
Lorna Baird
Gail Powley, Technology Alberta & Lorna Baird, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 31: 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 2
This Panel will share learnings from the last 35 years of ASTech (Alberta Science & Technology Leadership) Awards – with a focus on Alberta’s Award Winners in Agriculture. From researchers who have addressed crop disease issues, to farmers who have collaborated with colleges to try new approaches, to livestock production innovation – this panel will share what went well for them, what programs and collaborations that they would recommend to others, what they might do differently, and what excites them about AgTech in the future.
Lorna is the Manager of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI) where she helps people with new business ideas and small to medium-sized businesses access networks. Lorna also supports Business Development for the TACLP at the College where she continues to help those same individuals and businesses develop, validate and demonstrate new technologies or innovative techniques.
Lorna also co-chairs the Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network (CARIN) which is one of eight Regional Innovation Networks, or RINs by Alberta Innovates. The networks work collaboratively and share ideas and noteworthy practices. Within the College community, Lorna is also a member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee and the OCCI in the Community Committee.
Lorna holds a B.Sc. in Animal Science from the University of Manitoba
Marc Zienkiewicz
Marc Zienkiewicz, Alberta Seed Guide, Jeremy Boychyn, Alberta Grains, Lori Oatway, Western Crop Innovations, & Dr. Jennifer Zantinge, Western Crop Innovations
July 30: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 2
Brought to you by the Alberta Seed Guide, join us for an engaging panel discussion exploring the transformative power of technology in the realm of seed development and agricultural innovation.
Marc spent a decade working as a reporter, photographer, and finally managing editor for Canada’s largest newspaper chain. He graduated from both the University of Winnipeg and Red River College communications programs, and over the years has received numerous Manitoba Community Newspapers Association awards for his writing and photography. He brings his love of writing, editing and constant learning to his role as editor of the Alberta Seed Guide.
Matthew Harrison
“Seeds of Success: Understanding governance and integration to improve operational capability“
David Guthrie & Matthew Harrison, KPMG
July 31: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 1
You may be exploring new technologies or have already begun your transformation journey. Do you understand what governance means, how your systems speak to each other, and how you might utilize the data that may already exist in your IT environment?
Agriculture technology (“AgTech”) has the potential to improve efficiency, sustainability, transparency, and traceability in the sector, and is changing rapidly to meet the needs of producers and agribusinesses. However, technology is not a catch-all, one-time solution that you can set up and then ignore. After implementing new technology solutions, it’s crucial to make sure that you have a plan for governance and how to maximize the usefulness of your data and ensure that your systems can interact with each other effectively to fulfill your business requirements.
This educational session will provide some food for thought on governance, as well as tangible examples of what you might look at when evaluating the integration and outputs of your current systems and how you can use those to better improve your business.
Matt Harrison is a Manager in KPMG’s Advisory Services practice. He has 9 years of experience in operations management, business process analysis, performance management, and strategic planning.
Matt has experience working in both the public and private sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, and municipal government. He has worked the majority of his career in the Agriculture industry including roles in a custom goods processing facility and working onsite with producers to optimize inputs and decision making.
Megan Croft Shapka
“From Idea to Impact: Building Startups with Purpose”
Bre Walkeden, Cultivator, Robert Saik, AGvisorPRO, Megan Croft Shapka, SVG Thrive, Rakesh Bhat, Discovery Lab & Dana Gibson, AB Innovates
July 31: 3 pm – 3:45 pm in Tent 2
Join us for an engaging panel discussion where leading incubators and accelerators discuss their strategies for supporting high-growth agtech companies at the forefront of agricultural innovation. This session will explore the unique challenges and opportunities within the agtech sector, highlighting success stories and the pivotal role these organizations play in nurturing the startups that are revolutionizing the agriculture industry. Panelists will share insights into mentorship, funding, networking, and the essential resources they provide to help agtech companies thrive in a competitive market.
Megan Croft Shapka is the Ecosystem and Partnership Operations Manager at SVG Ventures I THRIVE, a leading global agri-food tech innovation and investment platform. She is responsible for supporting the execution of THRIVE Canada’s programs, building strategic relationships in Canada, and managing government partnerships.
Megan has a diverse background, primarily in the public sector, with experience in industry engagement, business development, client relationship management, government relations, applied research operations management and leadership, program and curriculum development, and communications. A deeply passionate changemaker with a flair for disrupting the status quo by creating innovative processes, she is keenly interested in sustainability, agriculture, and food production.
Megan formerly led applied research administration, operations and facilities focused on integrated food systems, irrigated crop production, post-harvest and storage techniques, and spatial technologies; establishing strong entrepreneurial ecosystems and support services for small- and medium-sized enterprises; and building and leading incubator programming focused on agriculture innovation and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Megan has an MBA, majoring in entrepreneurship, from Edinburgh Napier University; an MEd in sustainability, creativity, and innovation from Cape Breton University; and a bachelor’s degree in professional communications from Athabasca University.
Merle Olson
Dr. Merle Olson, Alberta Veterinary Labs
July 30: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 2
Looking at the technology of the Lidoband – a long term pain control for castration and tail docking
Merle is a chemist and a veterinarian. Dr. Olson Received a BSc (Honors) in Chemistry/Biology (University of Regina) and a MSc in Chemistry (University of Western Ontario). Dr. Olson obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (University of Saskatchewan) and then practised veterinary Medicine in Pincher Creek, Alberta. Dr. Olson conducted human and veterinary research at the University of Calgary where he published over 250 scientific papers and obtained over 45 patents. In 2004, Dr. Olson retired from the university and dedicated his time to pharmaceutical product development and manufacturing of products in Alberta.
AVL/Solvet was formed in 2009 to develop products based upon the needs of Canadian veterinarians and livestock producers. The company provides Canadian producers/veterinarians competitively priced livestock pharmaceutical products that were made in Canada with Canadian raw materials. A Canadian manufacturing base provides reliability of supply, addresses currency issues and retains the money in Canada. AVL/Solvet is the only veterinary pharmaceutical company that develops new products, tests the products, and then manufactures them for sale in Canada and internationally. AVL/Solvet has grown to over 60 highly trained scientists, veterinarians, engineers and technicians with sales across Canada. The manufacturing plant which produces over 40 products is in Calgary.
Ray Menard
Ray Menard, ACCWS
July 30: 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 3
An introduction to the fundamental concepts of oxygenation, including oxidation and redox processes, sediment oxygen demand, and water column oxygen demand. These processes are critical for understanding how oxygen levels influence water quality, such as organic sediment accumulation, iron levels, manganese management, algae blooms and foul odours.
Ray Menard joined Smoky Trout Farm, the family aquaculture business in 2014 after 20 years in financial services and business banking. He has extensive experience in helping landowners and agriculture clients manage dugouts and ponds in Alberta into thriving fisheries with outstanding water quality. ACCWS grew from Smoky Trout in 2017. ACCWS serves municipal, industrial and agriculture clients across Canada with an emphasis on science-led solutions for fresh water and wastewater challenges.
Prior to joining the family farm, Ray was a business lender for 20 years. This gives him a unique perspective on the water management business: how to reduce risk, manage costs and improve outcomes. ACCWS is built on knowing that understanding the science behind water quality challenges is the surest path to successful treatment.
Ray has lead ACCWS to form partnerships with water and waste water innovators across North America who share a focus on science to produce positive results. Specialties areas of service include: raw water aeration design/reservoir management, biological aerobic and anaerobic wastewater solutions, ultrasonic algae control applications, phosphorus and manganese management, and food production wastewater management.
Ray Price
“Harvesting Innovation: Bridging Traditional and Controlled Environment Agriculture”
Joya Sauder, PrairiesCan, Richard Gibson, Controlled Environment Agriculture Association of Alberta, Ray Price, Sunterra Group, Ryan Wright, NuLeaf Farms & Ronan Mackey, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 30: 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 2
The session will look at why there is a need for both CEA and traditional farming in Alberta, and will explore regional innovative research being done to help grow the industry to increase productivity
Ray Price, President, Sunterra Group
Ray grew up on a mixed farm near Acme, Alberta. After attending college, he returned to the farm and worked in every area of the Sunterra business, working his way into senior leadership roles. The Sunterra Group encompasses pig production in Alberta and South Dakota, cropping operations in the Acme area, a pork plant located in Trochu, Alberta, the Soleterra salami and ham processing facility near Acme, Sunterra Markets with 8 retail food stores in Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton, and its latest expansion, a 20 acre glass greenhouse which produces tomatoes and strawberries outside Acme.
Ray is currently a director of the Sunterra Group, Fortis Alberta, Kathairos Solutions, the Canadian Meat Council and the Vineland Innovation and Research Centre. He has also served on several other industry, community, and corporate boards over the years.
Richard Gibson
“Harvesting Innovation: Bridging Traditional and Controlled Environment Agriculture”
Joya Sauder, PrairiesCan, Richard Gibson, Controlled Environment Agriculture Association of Alberta, Ray Price, Sunterra Group, Ryan Wright, NuLeaf Farms & Ronan Mackey, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 30: 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 2
The session will look at why there is a need for both CEA and traditional farming in Alberta, and will explore regional innovative research being done to help grow the industry to increase productivity
Richard Gibson, Director of Controlled Environment Agriculture Association of Alberta, and Co-Founder of Planetary Harvest Vertical Farms
Richard has over 30 years of agricultural innovation experience in private, multi-national and government R&D organizations with leadership roles in field research, business architecture, and product development. An amateur astronomer and space enthusiast, Richard is an avid supporter for CEA in rural and remote environments. His current endeavor is de-risking the development of sustainable, and commercially viable, vertical farming environments.
Robert Saik
Robert Saik, AGvisorPRO
July 31: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 4
Robert will be discussing how Artificial Intelligence will impact farming using some examples of their own developments in visorPRO.ai
In 2021 Robert was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 Most Influential Agriculture Leaders and was named one of Canada’s Top 10 Ag Mentors.
ROBERT SAIK has forty years of experience as a Professional Agrologist, entrepreneur and an international consultant who’s worked with a wide variety of agriculturalists from Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture to Bill Gates. He was one of only 3 private citizens to address the October 2020 FAO_UN High Level Special Event (Rome) organized by the Committee for World Food Security to address agriculture sustainability.
Robert is the founder and CEO of award-winning AGvisorPRO, a technology platform that connects those seeking agriculture advice with trusted experts who can provide answers now. In 2023 he also founded visorPRO® which is AI serving the farm equipment and construction sectors.
Through Saik Management Group Inc he facilitates the PowerFARM peer group for progressive farmers.
He serves on several Boards including the Canadian Agri-Food Autonomous Innovation Network (CAAIN) as well as Proteum Energy. Rob is an advisor to Olds College, is a member of the A100 (Alberta Tech Entrepreneur Network), a student of Strategic Coach and Singularity University and a member of Abundance 360. As a partner in Perigro Venture Partners he participates in early-stage technology investments.
He has been recognized for agriculture leadership by the Alberta Institute of Agrologists (Provincial Distinguished Agrologist of the Year 2006) and in 2016 was awarded Canadian Agri-Marketer of the Year by the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association.
Ronan Mackey
“Harvesting Innovation: Bridging Traditional and Controlled Environment Agriculture”
Joya Sauder, PrairiesCan, Richard Gibson, Controlled Environment Agriculture Association of Alberta, Ray Price, Sunterra Group, Ryan Wright, NuLeaf Farms & Ronan Mackey, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 30: 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 2
The session will look at why there is a need for both CEA and traditional farming in Alberta, and will explore regional innovative research being done to help grow the industry to increase productivity
Ronan Mackey, Instructor and CEA Curriculum Advisor, Olds College For the past eight years, Ronan has been actively involved in the Controlled Environment Agriculture Sector. As a Director of Cultivation, he managed one of Canada’s largest Medical Plant operations through the difficult start up and regulation phases. He spent four years operating as a Risk Advisory Consultant for Deloitte Canada focusing on sustainable controlled environment agriculture. With Deloitte, he consulted with over 90 different clients operating or entering into the CEA industry, including designing one of Canada’s largest operating multi-tiered vertical farms. Currently, he operates his own consulting business which has helped CEA clients throughout Canada and the Caribbean improve yields, reduce water and power consumption, improve pest management practices and decrease labour costs. Ronan is both a contract instructor in the Horticulture Applied Degree program and Curriculum advisor for the soon to launch CEA program at Olds College.
Russell Shuttleworth
“Navigating the Future of Satellites: Impact of Imagery and Indexes On Your Farm”
Russell Shuttleworth, AFSC
July 30: 11 am – 11:45 am in Tent 5
Join AFSC’s Strategy and Innovation team as we explore Remote Sensing. In this session, we will explore methods of remote sensing and imagery analysis, learn how this technology might impact farmers, and understand why it is key for the future of farming.
Russell Shuttleworth is the Innovation Team Lead at Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC). With a focus on the future (5+ years out) he leads the research and development of new tools, processes and programs for AFSC.
Russell has over 10 years of agriculture experience in Alberta and is a certified Professional Agrologist. Additionally, he has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Alberta and a Masters of Arts in Economics from the University of Missouri.
Ryan Follack
“Back to the Future – Advancements in AgTech”
Brent Nicol & Ryan Follack, Brandt Tractor Ltd.
July 30 from 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 3
The John Deere technology package continues to be the cutting-edge in the Precision agriculture space. With these continued advancements, the Brandt team will showcase some of the latest technology and what we can expect in the future.
Ryan Follack is the current Precision Ag Lead for Central Alberta. He oversees Precision Agriculture Operations for 8 locations. Ryan is an alumnus of Olds College and enjoys showing farmers new and leading edge technology and how it can make a positive return for their specific operation.
Ryan Wright
“Harvesting Innovation: Bridging Traditional and Controlled Environment Agriculture”
Joya Sauder, PrairiesCan, Richard Gibson, Controlled Environment Agriculture Association of Alberta, Ray Price, Sunterra Group, Ryan Wright, NuLeaf Farms & Ronan Mackey, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 30: 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 2
The session will look at why there is a need for both CEA and traditional farming in Alberta, and will explore regional innovative research being done to help grow the industry to increase productivity
Ryan Wright, Co-founder and CEO of NuLeaf Farms Ryan is the co-founder and CEO of NuLeaf Farms, a Calgary-based company specializing in sustainable food production. Ryan has over 20 years of experience in designing, building, and operating industrial projects across Canada’s largest industries. In 2015, Ryan’s focus shifted towards exploring sustainable food production methods to improve food security and reduce agriculture’s environmental impact. This pursuit led to the founding of NuLeaf Farms, where he and his team are growing the next generation of farmers as they consult, design, build, educate, and develop crops and indoor farming solutions for a more sustainable and secure food future.
Sandy Russell
“Unlocking Genetics to Improve Sustainable Beef Production”
Sandy Russell, Canadian Beef Breeds Council
July 30: 3 pm – 3:45 pm in Tent 5
This session will focus on defining how producers can utilize innovative genetic technologies to inform data driven genetic selection decisions within their management systems to improve their overall profitability and sustainability within their business.
Leading the Canadian Beef Breeds Council(CBBC), Sandy works on behalf of the seedstock sector to address policy and regulatory issues and drive growth of both international and domestic trade for beef cattle genetics. As the Chief Executive Officer of CBBC, Sandy oversees the development of the Canadian Beef Improvement Network (CBIN), a collaborative network focused on increasing the utilization of genetic data and adoption of genetic innovations to create value for all sectors of the Canadian beef industry and to further advance industry-wide economic and environmental sustainability.
Shabeg Briar
Ike Edeougu & Shabeg Briar, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 30: 3 pm – 3:45 am in Tent 4
Biostimulants may play a crucial role in revolutionizing agriculture towards sustainability by enhancing productivity, resilience, and soil health. Through innovative formulations derived from natural sources like plants, microbes, and seaweed extracts, biostimulants optimize nutrient uptake, mitigate stress, and enhance plant growth. Does the integration of biostimulants into crop production signify a promising pathway towards sustainable crop production, aligning with environmental stewardship and food security?
Shabeg Briar earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Agriculture from Punjab Agricultural University and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology and Nematology from Ohio State University, USA. During his Ph.D. work at the Ohio State University, he focused on soil health of farming systems and studied bio-indicators and their role in the soil food web.
Currently in his role as a Research Scientist at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, Shabeg is responsible for conducting small plot crop trials related to herbicide efficacy, crop variety evaluation, silage and forage production, nutrient management, and pest (including weed) management studies. He is a certified professional agronomist and possesses a pesticide applicator license. Prior to his current posting, Shabeg worked as a Research Scientist with Montana Agricultural Experiment Station
Shannon Torgerson
“Sharing your Ag story In a Digital World”
Shannon Torgerson & Kayla Sarvas, Oh Sheep Sh*t
July 31 from 3 pm – 3:45 pm in Tent 3
Shannon and Kayla will chat with you about how they chose to share their journey on social media and the opportunities and exposure they’ve received. They’ll discuss the importance of speaking positively online about raising sheep to combat the negative stereotypes of raising lamb in Canada.
Kayla and Shannon started raising sheep 2 years ago. As hairstylists they had very minimal experience raising livestock so they took their journey to social media and are very open with showing absolutely everything they encounter, good and bad. It’s given them some very cool adventures and they’ve found sharing your agriculture story online can be very beneficial.
Susan Groeneveld
July 31: 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 1Innovation is accelerating at breakneck speed. Learn more about the trends that are driving this explosion in technological advancements and how the users of the technology are firmly in the drivers seat.
Susan Groeneveld is a distinguished serial entrepreneur with specialization in agricultural and technology based businesses. Her 30 year career has included leading commercialization for some of the largest global companies in animal health and agriculture, co-founding an award winning North American marketing agency- WS, a globally recognized not for profit in animal health and most recently Sylvester.ai. In 2023, her outstanding contributions were recognized as a top 5 finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year for Women in AI across North America. This recognition underscores Susan’s impact and leadership in the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Her passion for innovation, coupled with her dedication to addressing global challenges, positions her as a driving force in the ongoing transformation of agriculture and animal health sectors.
Tahmid Huq Easher, Ph.D.
“Agriculture Technology Adoption in Canadian Prairies: Insights from the Census Data”
Tahmid Huq Easher, Ph.D., Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
July 31: 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 3
This presentation explores into the adoption of agricultural technology in the Canadian Prairies, leveraging comprehensive data from the 2016 and 2021 Canadian Agriculture Census. It examines farm types, sizes, and technology preferences, emphasizing the 2021 demographic profile of farm operators. Through these datasets, it uncovers insights on farmer numbers, geographic spread, acreage, and tech integration, underlining the importance of evidence-based analysis. With an 80 percent response rate, it showcases the reliability of Statistics Canada’s questionnaire design. This exploration furnishes crucial insights for informed decision-making, crucial for the ongoing progress of the Canadian Prairies’ agricultural landscape.
Tahmid Huq Easher, Ph.D. is a faculty member at Olds College, bringing over 11 years of diverse experience in agriculture-focused soil and water management research across academia, government institutions, and NGOs in Bangladesh and Canada. He holds a PhD from the University of Guelph and a MSc from McGill University. His primary research focus lies in leveraging machine learning for data analysis to predict soil property information, enhancing our understanding of soil dynamics. He aims to build a collaborative platform that brings together modelers, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, private sectors, and communities. This platform will serve as a catalyst for developing precision farming practices in the Canadian prairies, incorporating ideas, practices, and strategies while integrating community practices and indigenous knowledge into data-driven agricultural modeling approaches.
Tiago Valente
“Adoption of Genomic Tools project“
Dr. John Basarab & Tiago Valente, Livestock Gentec
July 31: 9:15 am – 10 am in Tent 4
Join John Basarab & Tiago S. Valente to learn more about the “Adoption of Genomic Tools project”.
Genomic tools and accuracy of MBVs for economically important traits continue to improve for application in the commercial crossbred beef cattle industry. John will discuss how genomic breed composition, genomic Hybrid Vigour Score, the Replacement Heifer Index Score™ and the Feeder Profit Index™ can be used to improve female fertility, stayability, lifetime productivity, profitability and sustainability. He will also discuss the newly funded RDAR S-CAP project on “Adoption of Genomic Tools” and how producers can receive an incentivized price for genomic services and genotyping the key animals within their beef herd.
Tiago is a Research Associate at Livestock Gentec, University of Alberta. He received his PhD. degree in Animal Breeding and Genetics in 2016 from Sao Paulo State University, Brazil. In 2017, he joined Livestock Gentec as a post-doctoral fellow working on the development and deployment of selection indices for Canadian crossbreed beef cattle, including the Replacement Heifer Index Score™ and the Feeder Profit Index™. Currently, his area of work includes include improving feed efficiency, female fertility, and longevity, delivering genomic and production technologies to the beef industry.
Troy Aberle
“Top 5 Things to Consider Before Buying Equipment and Inputs for your Farm”
Troy Aberle, Ag Powerhouse
July 30 from 1:15 pm – 2 pm in Tent 4
Over the past 15 years, Troy has dedicated himself to understanding the real challenges that keep farmers up at night, and the findings have been both surprising and concerning. Issues like depression, confusion, mental and physical stress, divorce, and children with behavioral problems are alarmingly common in the farming and construction industries. Dealers and manufacturers often remain unaware of these challenges and are slow to address them.
Why does this matter? Because farmers face immense pressures from unpredictable weather, fluctuating interest rates, inflation, and staffing challenges, all of which contribute to significant mental and physical strain. Drawing from his extensive experience selling John Deere equipment and his studies in human behavior with his mentor Tony Robbins, Troy has gained valuable insights into why the farming industry faces these challenges.
Join Troy as he shares the top 5 considerations for making major farm purchases. He will explore how transparency and accountability in buying criteria can significantly reduce stress, increase profits, and make the business more enjoyable for everyone involved. Together, we can work towards creating a more supportive and informed industry.
Troy Aberle stands out as a transformative leader in agriculture, bringing over 13 years of excellence as a top producer in equipment sales and marketing. His deep expertise is instrumental in helping farmers make informed purchasing decisions and assisting dealers and manufacturers in optimizing their sales strategies. Guided by the philosophy “Be a product of the product” and shaped by mentors like Tony Robbins and Bob Proctor, Troy’s approach seamlessly blends strategic vision with actionable insights.
Through his extensive research, Troy has identified the top five factors that are crucial for farmers to consider before purchasing equipment. His insights help prevent serious problems that can arise from uninformed decisions, ensuring sustainability and efficiency in farm operations. Dedicated to advancing agricultural practices, Troy’s work promotes sustainable methods and boosts sales efficiency, securing long-term prosperity for the farming community.
As a keynote speaker and visionary, Troy’s commitment to integrity, innovation, and excellence positions him as a pivotal resource for farmers and agricultural professionals seeking practical guidance and inspiration. Join him to explore groundbreaking strategies that propel agricultural businesses forward.