Province supporting agritech in the B.C. Interior

The B.C. government is investing in initiatives to create more agricultural jobs and strengthen the sector, including locally focused projects.

The province will invest more than $15-million to support 19 new projects and nine training programs in B.C. It stated these initiatives would create roughly 200 new jobs and train hundreds others in science and technology to work in support of food security.

“Our province is home to vibrant agriculture and technology sectors, and our government is standing strong to keep them safe during times of global uncertainty,” Diana Gibson, B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, said.

“Through the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI), our government is bolstering our economy and leveraging our strengths to help local agritech and agrifood businesses bring more B.C. goods to market, advance food security and create good jobs for people by growing industry here at home.”

Of the planned projects, three will be located in the Southern Interior.

• AgriForest Bio-Technologies Ltd. (Kelowna): $678,000 to scale up an Internet of Things energy-efficient greenhouse-based vertical grow system
• -4AG Robotics Inc. (Salmon Arm): $1.47-million toto pilot fully autonomous, AI-enabled mushroom-harvesting robots at Champ’s Mushroom farm
• Takachar Limited (Salmon Arm): $199,000 to develop portable, low-cost systems to convert biomass fuels into products like biochar and biofuels

“Supporting our province’s food producers and agritech innovators is critical to building a sustainable, local food supply, as well as contributing to new jobs and economic growth in B.C.,” Lana Popham, B.C.’s Minister of Agriculture and Food, said.

“Through our partnership with the BC Centre for Agritech Innovation, we are helping small and medium-sized businesses develop new technologies and tools to support farmers and enhance food security for British Columbians.”

The funding included nearly $5-million in support from the BCCAI, as well as $8-million of in-kind support from the industry.

The province said the investments will support the sector by commercializing technologies that could create cleaner, more resilient and more productive agriculture, food and seafood industries.