Okanagan-based technologies supported through agri-tech funds

Provincial and federal support is being provided for agricultural innovation projects throughout the B.C., including one in the Okanagan.

The B.C. and Canadian governments are supporting 10 projects to help farmers adopt products and processes to help mitigate the impacts of climate change and boost the province’s food security and food economy.

“Our agricultural producers are the first to feel the effects of climate change and, together with many partners, they are strongly committed to developing and adopting tools and practices to make agriculture increasingly sustainable,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, the federal minister of agriculture and agri-food.

“These projects are prime examples of the kind of leadership they are demonstrating that will help us achieve our emission-reduction targets. I look forward to seeing these innovative ideas spread throughout British Columbia and elsewhere in Canada.”

A total of $1 million is being distributed to support the projects through the Canada-British Columbia Agri-Innovation program.

Of the ten projects receiving funding, two involve work from within the Okanagan.

Okanagan-based Geotronics Consulting, in partnership with Vintality Tech., is receiving $192,022 to develop new technology to reduce irrigation in vineyards.

The technology is expected to reduce the amount of water used while still maintaining vine health and grape quality.

The new process involves using a combination of precision viticulture sensor technologies with wireless and mesh networking to allow for real-time tracking of water use through sub-soil mapping.

It’s suspected that, once validated and commercialized, the technology could also be applied to other farmed crops that use automatic watering systems.

“We’re very excited about this project and work with the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C.,” said Christopher Mark, general manager of Geotronics Consulting.

“This funding has allowed us to hire a full-time employee dedicated to the project and get our technology trialed in vineyards. At a time when water-use is coming under justified scrutiny, we feel our project will allow more sustainable and profitable farming in B.C. and around the world.”

Additionally, Okanagan College’s Kelowna Campus is receiving $62,950 to design, build and pilot an algae bio-reactor.

The device is intended to sequester carbon dioxide produced by fermentation during the production of beer, wine and spirits.

Other projects receiving funding through this stream include:

• Designing and developing of a low-emission dairy barn;
• Developing a three-wheel electric-powered mini-tractor prototype;
• Isolating yeast strains that create proteins that can be used as replacements for antibiotics at poultry farms;
• Construction and piloting of a user-friendly beehive accessory for integrated varroa mite management;
• Testing organic-approved herbicides as potato top-kill methods;
• Testing an automated sorting technology to increase production capacity of large fruits and vegetables;
• Reducing the use of nitrogen fertilizers in vineyards and testing a combination of variable rate fertilization with vine yield and fruit quality analyses;
• Evaluating the biochar’s ability to improve soil water, nutrient retention and carbon storage while maintaining crop yields in water-stressed areas.

“We are seeing innovative and cutting-edge solutions being developed in the B.C. agri-tech industry, with funding through this program in response to issues such as climate change, labour shortages and food security,” said Lana Popham, B.C.’s Minister of Agriculture and Food.

“The collaboration between technology and agriculture is creating new opportunities for B.C. farmers and helping to grow and strengthen our provincial food system for future generations.”