By Alessia Proietti

AgSmart attracts over 2,000 international attendees for technological innovations

Aug 11, 2022 | 12:00 PM

Over 2,000 attendees are expected at this year’s AgSmart educational expo by Olds College.

Taking place on the south portion of the campus (4500 50 St.), the event runs from August 9-10 from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Focused on data and technology in the agricultural sector, producers and industry experts gather outside and in tents to view over 50 educational sessions, 110 exhibitors, and 50 demos of the latest innovations from apps, drones, robotics and more.

Educational tents and exhibitors at AgSmart on Aug. 9. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

Olds College is also showcasing their Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production and their latest projects.

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While AgSmart had their first show in 2019, Event co-manager, Stacy Felkar, said the conference continues to grow. This year’s expo, she said, has already attracted their most attendees yet and from around the world, including the United States, Mexico, Great Britain, India and Pakistan.

“With the industry evolving so quickly, there’s always something new to check out. There will be new start-up companies showcasing they’re newest technology, there’s companies that have a new innovation that they’re adding to their product line and so on,” she said.

One exhibitor, Climate FieldView, believes technological innovation in the agricultural industry will allow farmers to reach sustainability goals and produce good and safe food for consumers.

“Technology continues to grow and it’s all about being more sustainable. Making sure that we’re putting the right product, in the right place, at the right time, at the right rate and farmers being profitable and continuing to be able to grow food for the world on fewer acres,” said Marvin Talsma, product manager in charge of Scripting, a new tool allowing farmers to create custom zones in their fields to apply crop protection products.

The company, owned by Bayer CropScience, utilizes two phone applications and a website to collect, store and analyze data year round to help farmers make insightful decisions on their crops. Using tools like satellite imagery, weather information, and disease modelling, the apps help to answer questions such as when to apply herbicides, which crops should be given attention first, how to help crops recover from hail, and more.

The team giving two educational seminars at the conference, Christina Prelaz, field production specialist for Western Canada, said that agricultural innovation is developing quickly for all types of farmers, from any age and for a myriad of challenges.

(L-R) Christina Prelaz, field production specialist for Western Canada and Marvin Talsma, product manager in charge of Scripting, for Climate FieldView at AgSmart. (rdnewsNOW/Alessia Proietti)

“Sometimes there’s this theory or stigma that it’s the young farmers that are going to adapt digital ag. Whereas really, looking forward, even in the next three years, it’s not necessarily the young farmers. It’s the middle generation, the older generation, that’s going to find a fit for digital ag on their farm,” she said.

Tickets are still available for the expo on Eventbrite. Food trucks are stationed at the event and prizes over $4,000 will also be drawn at the end of each day.