Quick recap

The meeting focused on advancing agricultural technology through collaboration and innovation, with discussions on AI, semiconductors, and data management in the agtech ecosystem. Participants shared updates on upcoming events and initiatives, including plans for panel discussions and a working group meeting. The role of government and industry in supporting agricultural innovation was explored, emphasizing the need for resources, human capital, and collaboration to drive projects forward.

Next steps

• Tim and Dan to provide their contact information in the chat for follow-up discussions.

• Interested parties to email agrobotics working group (arw@westernfairdistrict.com) if they want to participate in future panel discussions on weed databases or data sovereignty.

• Alyssa to share information about an upcoming event in collaboration with Elric at Waterloo engineering in the chat.

• Dan Woods to add the link for the event shared by Alyssa to next week's agenda.

• Interested parties to submit applications for the mentorship program on the website.

• Government representatives to facilitate collaboration and education on AI and robotics in agriculture.

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to continue supporting companies in developing new agricultural technologies.

• Felix to continue advocating for regulatory changes to support the integration of UAV technology in agriculture.

Summary

AgTech Ecosystem Networking Introductions

The meeting began with introductions from new members, including Joe Bridges from Edney Distributing, Kelsey Banks from Eastern Ontario, and Andres from Eskego Delius. Leanna from Toronto Global also introduced herself, highlighting her organization's role in helping international companies expand in the Toronto region. Joe Dales, co-founder of RHA Ventures, discussed the importance of eliminating duplication of efforts and fostering networking within the agtech ecosystem. Tim Warland from CMC Microsystems shared his background in semiconductors and his current focus on supporting the agtech industry through semiconductor technology.

AI in Agriculture: Collaboration and Innovation

Dan Ganousis, representing UnTether, a Toronto-based AI semiconductor company, discussed the evolution of AI computing and its applications in various industries, including agriculture. He explained how AI inference enables real-time decision-making and highlighted the company's work in reducing power consumption and labor costs through advanced semiconductor technology. The discussion touched on the need for collaboration between different sectors to advance agricultural technology, with a focus on standardizing data collection and processing methods. Tim emphasized the importance of sensor technology in agriculture, while Chuck Baresich pointed out the challenges of data integration and context in the industry. The panel concluded with a discussion on the potential for an "Ag Box" initiative to promote collaboration and standardization in agricultural technology.

Agricultural Technology Collaboration Initiatives

The group discussed ways to advance agricultural technology projects that benefit the industry as a whole, despite individual companies not being interested in championing them due to resource requirements. Tim explained his mission to improve sensors and data collection for agriculture, seeking common themes and needs to connect with sensor manufacturers. Dan emphasized the need for an open attitude towards new technology in the Ag tech industry, highlighting the importance of collaboration and shared resources to drive innovation. The participants agreed to follow up with specific requests for support and to share contact information for further coordination.

Upcoming Events and Panel Discussions

The meeting covered updates on upcoming events, including the in-person working group meeting on June 20th at Vineland, which will coincide with the Vineland Research Demo Day. Participants were reminded to register for both events if attending both. Alyssa mentioned an upcoming event in collaboration with Elric at Waterloo Engineering and agreed to share more details in the chat. Bridget announced plans for two panel discussions on data management and data sovereignty, inviting interested participants to email the agrobotics working group. The conversation ended with a question about the Federal Government's role in encouraging data initiatives, which Joe Dales addressed.

Agricultural Innovation: Government and Industry

The meeting focused on the role of government and industry in supporting agricultural innovation, particularly in AI and robotics. Joe Dales highlighted the need for resources and human capital to drive projects forward, while Dan Ganousis emphasized the government's role as a facilitator. Bareila from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada offered support for technology development, and Felix raised concerns about regulatory delays and the exclusion of early adopters from government grants. The discussion concluded with an agreement on the importance of collaboration and education in advancing agricultural technology.