By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Autonomous ag work garners Olds College quarter-million dollar investment

Mar 14, 2021 | 11:51 AM

OLDS, AB – TD Bank Group has committed $250,000 for autonomous agriculture education and applied research at the Olds College Smart Farm.

Funding will support continuing operation of the DOT Autonomous Platform and the development of the Autonomous Agriculture Education Series.

“The opportunity for careers in Canadian agriculture is only going to grow in the years ahead — with the ag and food sector expecting a shortfall of 123,000 jobs by 2029,” says Stuart Cullum, Olds College President. “Automation and data-analytics are game-changer technologies, including for those who will operate and support the modern farm. Working in collaboration with organizations like TD, we can continue to develop the high tech learning environments and curriculum that will prepare Canada’s next generation of agriculture leaders.”

The DOT platform will be used for a second season on the Olds College Smart Farm this year. Its cutting-edge technology is part of a multi-year research project looking at the economic, financial and labour benefits of autonomous equipment for broad acre production.

The education series is a three-phase initiative designed to take producers will little to no experience in advancing ag tech from concept to adoption of practice on their own operations.

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The first session took place in February with 250 participants from around the world. The next is set for April 14.

“As the agriculture industry evolves, it’s increasingly important that farmers are given access to the innovative technologies and training that will enable them to be more efficient, while increasing production,” states Nicole Stelter, Vice President of Agriculture Services for Alberta at TD. “We are very excited to provide this funding to Olds College, made possible through the TD Ready Commitment, the bank’s Global Corporate Citizenship platform. This contribution aims to help bring the DOT technology as well as the practical application to both students and producers in the agriculture sector.”

More information on registration is at OldsCollege.ca.

(with file from Olds College media release)