Vintality i
Sara Sim of Vintality installing a weather station and atmometer to evaluate evapotranspiration.
The BC and Canadian governments are investing more than $1 million to support 10 new Agritech projects.
They say the investments are meant to support BC companies that are already developing technologies that will help farmers mitigate the impacts of climate change, and boost the province’s food security and food economy.
The program is administered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.
One such investment is going to Okanagan-based Geotronics Consulting Inc. and partner Vintality Tech Inc., who are receiving $192,022 to develop technology to reduce irrigation in vineyards.
“We’re very excited about this project and work with the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC,” said Geotronics general manager Christopher Mark. “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.”
The technology will reduce the water used, while maintaining vine health and grape quality. It combines precision viticulture sensor technology with new developments in wireless and mesh networking, the system will allow real-time tracking of water use through sub-soil mapping.
Dicklands Farms FLP in Chilliwack is receiving $165,000 to help design and develop a low-emission dairy barn that will capture and clean barn air, and control barn temperature and humidity. By combining cutting edge, commercially available technologies, Dicklands Farms aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions from the dairy sector, while giving dairy farmers the ability to control the environment inside their barns, keeping their cows healthy and safe during extreme weather and increasing productivity.
Docantheon Horticulture is developing a three-wheel electric-powered mini-tractor prototype that allows the operator to lie face down as it rolls slowly down field rows and perform planting, hand weeding or harvesting tasks. Located in Victoria, Ross Borden is receiving $15,000 to build the machine, named Zero, as it requires zero extra bed space to operate and zero bending to plant, weed and harvest. The goal of Zero is to reduce worker fatigue while increasing productivity.
Projects under the Agri-Innovation Program have received more than $11.3 million from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
