Grosse Isle- The governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing $2.025 million in financial support to the Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative (EMILI) for Advancing Digital Agriculture Opportunities under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, and Premier Wab Kinew announced today at the grand opening of the Innovation Farms Centre.
The funding builds on the launch of EMILI’s Innovation Farms Project, a 5,500-acre full-scale farming operation where they demonstrate and promote new processes and technologies. As a part of the Innovation Farms project, the 8,500 square foot Innovation Farms Centre officially opened today.
Innovation Farms Centre is where EMILI and its partners will be able to analyze farm data, test technology solutions and host educational events year-round. The space includes a workshop space, meeting rooms, offices and control centre where data from over 50 sensors will be displayed.
EMILI is an industry-led non-profit that was created in 2016 with the objective of preparing and empowering Manitoba farmers to leverage digital disruption for success with a specific focus on digital agriculture. EMILI also demonstrates new skills and technologies required by the industry to attract more people to agriculture and address skills gaps in the labor force.
The vision for EMILI’s Innovation Farms Project is to be a place of collaboration and demonstration, for both experts and the general public, including students and others in the industry.
Another way for producers, researchers and agricultural professionals to engage with research in Manitoba is through the Manitoba Diversification Centres. The province’s four centres conduct applied research and demonstrations on crops, technology and best management practices.
The 2024 Annual Field Days are learning events taking place over the summer on:
- July 25 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Westman Agricultural Diversification Organization near Melita
- July 31 from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Prairies East Sustainable Agriculture Initiative near Arborg
- August 7 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre near Carberry
- August 8 from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation near Roblin
“Farmers are constantly doing their best to adapt to the unique challenges they face, while working hard to feed Canadians and the world. With support under Sustainable CAP, this program will help farmers in Manitoba adopt more digital technologies so they can gain valuable insights into their operations, improve their efficiency, and stay on the cutting edge.” – Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food