Financial Commitment supports AgExpert Data Lab and Olds College Smart Farm
(Calgary, Alberta — April 25, 2019) – Farm Credit Canada (“FCC”) announced today a $200,000 commitment to Olds College and its focus on cultivating informed decisions through the advancement of ag technology learning and applied research at the Olds College Smart Farm.
The four-year financial commitment enables Olds College to create the AgExpert Data Lab, located on campus inside the Smart Ag Innovation Centre.
The lab is a technologically advanced workspace, available for students, instructors, industry partners and the Smart Farm Integration Team to meet, collaborate and learn. “Thanks to this investment from FCC, we continue to develop our Olds College Smart Farm,” says Olds College President, Stuart Cullum. “The AgExpert Data Lab brings together data from our agriculture operation, allowing us to analyse and demonstrate innovative technology and practices for entrepreneurs, companies and producers and for student learning.”
“The Smart Ag Innovation Centre will be the hub for digital ag in Canada and FCC is thrilled to be a partner through the AgExpert Data Lab,” said Fred Wall, FCC’s vice-president of marketing. “The lab will teach the next generation of farmers how to collect and properly manage farm data. That knowledge helps producers make informed decisions, driving both individual and industry success.”
In addition to the creation of the AgExpert Data Lab, the donation will help fund the Olds College Smart Farm. The Smart Farm uses cutting edge technology to provide a hands-on learning environment for students of the College and an opportunity for industry to develop, integrate and test new agriculture technology and practices. The donation also provides students access to the AgExpert platform which includes AgExpert Accounting and AgExpert Field.
“Canada’s vision of being a leader in agriculture and a top food exporter is supported by partnerships like the one between Olds College and FCC,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food. “As agriculture adapts to the needs of Canadians and the global community, smart farms and the data lab can have a tremendous benefit for everyone who depends on this sector.”
Current Olds College student Martina Holtkamp is excited about the investment. “As a student in the Bachelor of Applied Science - Agribusiness Degree, I am very excited be able to see how technology is evolving the agriculture industry. Having access to the AgExpert Data Lab on campus will be an amazing opportunity for students. It’s a very exciting time to be studying agriculture here at Olds College.”
