On Thursday, July 27, EMILI welcomed 10 ag-tech startups to Innovation Farms to showcase emerging digital agriculture technologies to potential investors, government funders and community supporters.

Participating companies included Geco Engineering, Green Aero Technology, CultivateCI, TheoryMesh, InputsPro, FeedFlo, Carbon Lock Tech, Carbon Asset Solutions, GrainFox and UKKÖ Robotics. These organizations have all developed novel solutions to help farmers increase sustainability on the farm. 

First ever Innovation Farms Demo Day brings community together 

“They say it takes a village and it really does,” said EMILI Capital Enablement Manager Lasha Glennie. “Supporting early stage organizations is an important way to increase the speed of innovation, accelerate technology adoption, create new jobs, and foster sustainability.” 

Glennie, who joined EMILI in March 2023, works with start-ups and entrepreneurs to facilitate access to resources, mentorship and financial support. Over the past eight years working in Winnipeg’s technology industry, she has assisted numerous companies in securing investment, sales and partnerships. She organized EMILI’s first-ever demo day event at Innovation Farms to give representatives from federal and provincial governments, VC firms, angel groups, banks and community builders a chance to connect with entrepreneurs and see first-hand the incredible agri-tech talent located here in Manitoba. 

Field demonstrations showcase novel digital agriculture solutions 

Attendees learned about Inputs Pro; a mobile application that puts essential crop data at your fingertips. EMILI’s Innovation Farms team is using this mobile app throughout the season to retrieve information on rates, water volume, tank mix options and more for the safe and effective application of crop inputs. 

In a combined demonstration by two innovative ag-tech companies, Geco Engineering created a predictive weed map from satellite and drone data in order to download predictions into a spray drone from GreenAero Tech, showing how drone mapping technology combined with data driven insights can help farmers predict where weeds will emerge.

FeedFlo demonstrated how their precision feed sensors provide farmers with real-time feed data and analytics to maximize feed availability and quickly assess animal health.

Table top demos highlight digital agriculture innovation 

As the morning events wrapped up, attendees gathered for a catered lunch and the chance to make connections and share a meal together. 

After lunch, companies took part in table top demos where they shared more ways that digital agriculture technology and automation can enhance on-farm productivity across the Prairies: 

• TheoryMesh and CultivateCI discussed how they work together to deliver data-driven sustainability for food and agriculture supply chains. 

• GrainFox shared how they help producers achieve their financial goals by delivering clear, unbiased, concise, personalized sales recommendations specific to their farm business.

• Carbon Lock Tech demonstrated how they convert food and crop waste into stable biocarbon that can be sequestered in a range of sustainable products and applications.

• Carbon Asset Solutions and UKKÖ Robotics shared innovations in autonomous barn design and precision-measurement technology that are increasing sustainability faster and more efficiently than ever before.

Many of the organizations presenting at EMILI’s first-ever Demo Day are recipients of EMILI’s Emergence Initiative Grant, an initiative that supports startups and connects entrepreneurs with resources, connections and financial support to expand digital agriculture and attract new business to Manitoba.

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This article and its images were supplied by EMILI.