Quick recap

The July 25, 2025 Agribotics working group meeting began with new member introductions from CMC Microsystems, including Olive Zhao's presentation on a smart agriculture platform. Lisa Ashton, Director of Agricultural Policy at RBC Thought Leadership, presented on the agri-food sector's economic development potential and discussed trade negotiations, export performance, and supply management challenges. The conversation ended with updates on various initiatives including agricultural innovation, market opportunities, and upcoming funding opportunities for 2026, along with staffing changes and successful demo events.

Next steps

• Lisa Ashton to share the presentation PDF with Kyle and Eric for distribution to the group

• Western Fair District to hire an Agribusiness Manager to cover for Bridget during her maternity leave

• Group members to start planning for 2026 funding opportunities with the Ag Robotics Working Group, opening in March

• Kansa team to continue developing soil organic carbon measurement tools and expand projects across Canada

• Dan to send Lisa Klimstra's email address to the group member who requested it

Summary

Smart Agriculture Platform Developments

The July 25, 2025 Agribotics working group meeting began with new member introductions, where Olive Zhao from CMC Microsystems presented her work on an open-source smart agriculture platform that monitors environmental data and plans to add remote control capabilities. Yassine from CMC Microsystems, who works with Olive in the IoT and Edge AI team, also introduced himself to the group. The conversation ended with Lisa Ashton, Director of Agricultural Policy at RBC Thought Leadership, being invited to present on how agri-food can lead a new era of economic development.

RBC's Agricultural Sector Leadership Initiatives

Lisa presented an overview of RBC's thought leadership in agriculture and food, highlighting their research on trade growth, diversification, and policy issues. She discussed RBC's role in the Canadian economy and their commitment to supporting the agricultural sector through research, stakeholder engagement, and action. Lisa also touched on RBC's involvement in climate action initiatives and their work with the Canadian Alliance for Net Zero Agri-Food.

Trade Negotiations and Economic Impact

Lisa discussed the ongoing trade negotiations and their impact on the economy. She noted that while there has been volatility, Canada is not yet in a recession. Lisa highlighted the potential for a 35% tariff on exports starting August 1st if a deal is not reached, which could affect products outside the Kuzma Agreement. She also mentioned that 91% of exports are now Kuzma compliant, up from 99% for agri-food products earlier in the year. Lisa pointed out that the US is collecting more duties, but there are some discrepancies in reported figures, possibly due to reporting delays. She emphasized that most of these duties are coming from outside Canada, as 91% of exports are Kuzma compliant.

Canada's Agri-Food Export Growth Strategy

Lisa presented a report on Canada's agri-food export performance and future prospects. She highlighted that while exports have grown 4-fold over 25 years, Canada is not keeping pace with the global market, with 60% of exports going to the US. The team, in partnership with Boston Consulting Group, developed a high-growth scenario that could add $44 billion to exports by 2023, focusing on market diversification, innovation, and capital investment. Key challenges identified included limited 5G access in rural areas, the need to strengthen the business case for foreign investment, and the potential impact of trade tensions with the US.

Canadian Supply Management Trade Implications

Lisa discussed the evolving Canadian conversation around supply management, particularly in the context of the trade war with the US. She explained that the main issue with supply management is not producer pricing or production quotas, but rather the approach to import quotas. Lisa highlighted the stability provided by Canadian-based supply chains during disruptions like the coronavirus and trade wars. She also broke down the benefits of supply management using the three S's: sovereignty, stability, and standards. Lisa noted that Canada is not well-positioned for agri-food export growth, and compared the trade-offs between Canadian and US supply management systems, highlighting the higher prices for Canadian consumers but also the stability of the Canadian system during disruptions.

Global Agricultural Policies and Opportunities

Lisa discussed global agricultural trends and challenges, highlighting New Zealand's agrazero program for climate action in agriculture and the UK's transition from EU CAP funding to a regional subsidy system. She noted that while Brazil has become a major agricultural producer, its dairy exports are limited to 1% of production, and it faces challenges with global alignment, supply chain infrastructure, and traceability. Lisa concluded that Canada could learn from these examples, particularly regarding diversifying trading partners and managing different types of farms to expand market opportunities beyond the Canadian market.

Agricultural Innovation and Market Opportunities

Lisa presented on agricultural innovation and market opportunities, highlighting Canada's potential to lead in sustainable food systems. She discussed the fragmented policy landscape and the need for quantitative assessments of resilience and environmental sustainability. Lisa also addressed questions about private versus public investment in ag innovation and the importance of human resources in market development. Joe suggested focusing on high-value, intellectual property-driven products and emphasized the need for more investment in people and market access.

Ag Initiatives and Workforce Updates

The meeting covered several topics, including a successful demo day in Simcoe with over 200 attendees, 20% of whom were growers. Dan announced that Bridget will be taking maternity leave in November, and the Western Fair District is seeking an agribusiness manager to cover her role. The group discussed upcoming 2026 funding opportunities for the Ag Robotics Working Group, with applications opening in March. Lisa provided an update on the Kansa initiative, a coalition working to improve soil organic carbon measurement and expand carbon offset projects across Canada.