March 8th 2024 Meeting

AgRobotics Working Group Meeting Agenda, March 8th, 2024 

1. New Members:  

   1. Ronald Evans – National Research Council Canada 

   2. Ketan Ramji   - National Research Council Canada 

   3. Kit Mann - National Research Council Canada 

2. Presentations: Jeff Beaudoin - Critical Industrial Technologies program 

3. Conferences/Meetings/Field Tours/Demonstrations 

   1. London Farm Show, March 6-8th, 2024, London Ontario 

   2. Ottawa Farm Show, March 12-14th, 2024, 4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa 

   3. New York State Organics Summit, April 3-5, 2024, Syracuse New York NYS Organics Summit (nysar3.org)   

   4. International Symposium on Robotics & Automation - Monday, 22 July 2024 in Manhattan, KS, USA, in conjunction with the 16th International Conference on Precision Agriculture. ispag.org/Events/R_A_Symposium 

4. Project Updates 

   1. 5 Year Funding Priorities  

5. Funding Announcements/Opportunities

   1. Emergent Horticulture Opportunities Fund – Brian Lynch 

   2. THRIVE | ALBERTA INNOVATES - CLIMATE CHALLENGE 

   3. Climate Challenge Applications Open Until March 29 https://thriveagrifood.com/climate-challenge/ 

   4. The Greenbelt Foundation is accepting Letters of Intent for the 2024 Spring Grant Round which is open. Letter of Intent Due Date: March 22, 2024  Grant Guidelines 

   5. Agri-Innovate - AgriInnovate Program: Step 1. What this program offers - agriculture.canada.ca 

   6. OMAFRA/SCAP Funding Announcement and Program Details Link - Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership | ontario.ca 

   7. The Grow Ontario Accelerator Hub : Bioenterprise is OPEN for applications as of January 15, 2024. 

   8. Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) The Canadian and Ontario governments are investing up to $20 million to support the adoption of land-based improvements that will: reduce greenhouse gas emissions, store carbon, enhance other ecological good and services. Funding will be provided to eligible farmers to help improve on-farm productivity and increase the resilience of agricultural landscapes in response to a changing climate. 

   9. Agriculture Technology Innovation Initiative Governments Driving Innovation in Food Production | Ontario Newsroom The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $25 million, through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, to expand capacity and realize efficiencies in the agriculture and food sector through the Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative. The Initiative will include a funding opportunity for eligible businesses to increase their efficiency and productivity by investing in new technology, equipment, as well as building or facility modifications. ATII will be administered by the Agriculture Adaptation Council Agricultural Adaptation Council : ATII (adaptcouncil.org) Applications OPEN Closes March 28, 2024 at 11:00 a.m  

6. Round Table 

7. Other Items

• Harvesting innovation: The story behind Tortuga's autonomous harvesting robots - The Robot Report 

• Solar farms and sheep show the makings of a clean energy classic duo | Business Renewables Canada