The Government of Canada continues to invest in the agriculture and agri-food industry to create good middle-class jobs and ensure the sector punches above its weight in a competitive global market.
Today Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Natural Resources, on behalf of Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced an investment of up to $49.5 million in the Canadian AgriFood Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN), a network bringing together the private sector, academia and research institutions to accelerate automation and digitization in Canada’s agricultural sector.
CAAIN’s $108.5 million project will build on Canada’s strengths in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and precision agriculture to develop exportable farming solutions that will reduce reliance on temporary labour, increase global competitiveness and improve profitability for Canadian farmers.
Thanks in part to this investment, Canadians will benefit from the creation of highly skilled jobs and new businesses, improved food safety and livestock traceability, and smarter agriculture that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and land, water and pesticide use.
“Our government is proud to invest in the future of farming to ensure we continue to punch above our weight in the global market," says Minister Sohi. "Thanks to this investment, Canadian farmers will have new technologies and systems—things like robotic harvesters and computer networks—that will help make their farms more efficient.”
Source: Government of Canada