Victoria, BC, Aug. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Farmers in British Columbia will receive support to adopt new labor-saving technologies that will increase their profitability, productivity and efficiency while helping to improve food security in the province.
Farmers can now apply for the BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program. The governments of Canada and British Columbia are providing them with up to $2 million this year.
This second round of funding will focus on new commercially available agricultural technologies that will help grow, raise, harvest, package or store food more effectively, productively or profitably. The program will fund labor-saving technologies that help address labor shortages and improve processes for labor-intensive tasks.
Farmers can use the funds to purchase new technologies, such as equipment and robots that can operate independently and adapt to their environment. Examples include automated weeding equipment and harvesters, or machines that can perform tasks with minimal human intervention, such as automated sorting and grading machines.
Applications for this funding round are possible from Tuesday, August 20, to October 6, 2024.
As part of the Integrated Marketplace initiative of Innovate BC, a BC government agency, the BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program is funded by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The Partnership is a five-year, $3.5 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation and resilience of Canada’s agriculture, food and agri-products sectors. This includes $1 billion for federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment, 60% federally and 40% provincially/territory-funded, for programs developed and implemented by the provinces and territories.
Short info:
In the first round of the program, 54 farms received a total of $2 million to purchase new equipment.
Learn more:
BC On-Farm Technology Adoption Program: https://www.innovatebc.ca/programs/bc-on-farm
Van Eekelen Enterprises Ltd. Robot Weed Killer Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWc8QbG2GPc
Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership Program: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/department/initiatives/sustainable-canadian-agricultural-partnership
For more information about Innovate BC, visit: https://www.innovatebc.ca/
Contacts:
Jill Hunt
Press contact
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
778 676-4460
Annie Cullinan
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
[email protected]
Media contact for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa
[email protected]
613 773-7972
1 866 345-7972
Contact the Province of BC at: https://news.gov.bc.ca/connect
-
British Columbia farmers get more support to grow food with technology
