January 17, 2018: (CALGARY, AB) - Calgary Economic Development and Olds College have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish the leading smart agri-food corridor in Canada - the Calgary-Olds Smart Agri-Food Corridor.
This corridor will leverage Calgary’s global corporate presence and distribution hub with Olds College’s applied research and integrated learning. It will further develop an ecosystem that supports innovation and incubates entrepreneurial companies.
“Agriculture in Alberta has a rich history and a stellar reputation globally,” said Mary Moran, President & CEO, Calgary Economic Development. “With our track record for quality and food safety, we have the opportunity to play a much bigger role in feeding the world. Alberta already exports agriculture and food products to 140 countries and we can be an even more significant contributor to the global ecosystem.”
The corridor will provide companies and entrepreneurs access to a world-class agriculture environment that supports the development and scaling of new technologies throughout the production chain.
“Today, more than ever before, agriculture and food producers are looking to technology and science to optimize their operations,” said Stuart Cullum, President, Olds College. “Through the creation of the Calgary-Olds Smart Agri-Food Corridor, we will establish a strong regional position that will attract agriculture entrepreneurs, start-up companies and technology developers.”
The 100-kilometre corridor better positions Calgary-Olds to play a key role in the Government of Canada’s proposed Smart Agri-Food Supercluster and positions the Calgary area at the forefront of an industry that’s critical to the Alberta and Canadian economies.
