Olds College of Agriculture & Technology joined exhibitors from around the world at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) Global Exhibition From Seeds to Foods, held from Oct. 8 to 12, 2026, at the historic Circus Maximus in Rome, Italy.
The exhibition showcased FAO’s work across agrifood systems, specifically around five interconnected areas — Land and Water, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Forestry, Crops and Livestock. Regional pavilions with 400 exhibitors representing over 130 countries from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East highlighted the diversity and uniqueness of agrifood systems around the world through products, stories, traditions, innovations and technology. In total, the five-day exhibition welcomed approximately 25,000 visitors.
“We were thrilled to join other Canadian, North American and international organizations at the FAO From Seeds to Foods exhibition, telling the story of how our institution combines education and research to advance agriculture across Canada and around the world.”
Jason Bradley, Senior Manager, Olds College Smart Farm, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
At the exhibition, Olds College delegates connected with FAO leaders and international agricultural industry stakeholders to share how the College’s distinct approach to agriculture, education, research and innovation can support global agrifood development and be an example for others.
“A highlight of the exhibition was meeting with FAO leadership including Kazuki Kitaoka, Director, Office of Youth and Women and Lauren Phillips, Director of Partnerships, as well as other global leaders in the agriculture sector. We will continue to follow-up with newly formed FAO connections to explore how Olds College can become more involved with their tools and technologies, and global youth initiatives.”
Peter Mal, Vice President, Growth & Operations, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
The conversations at the exhibition reinforced the importance of investing in the next generation of agricultural leaders and connecting education, innovation and workforce development opportunities to build a more sustainable and food-secure future. The delegates from Olds College also had the opportunity to meet with representatives from other educational institutions and agricultural organizations while in Italy, extending the trip’s reach beyond the thousands of on-the-ground interactions that took place during the exhibition.
“This was an exciting opportunity to showcase Canadian agricultural innovations for an international audience. I’m always grateful to be part of conversations on where our food comes from and where it's going next.”
Christina Kaye, Project Lead, Smart Agriculture Applied Research team, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
The Olds College booth brought the Smart Farm and the cutting-edge technology we use to life with virtual reality goggles loaded with 360-degree videos of the Olds College campus and Smart Farm activities. Thousands of participants experienced the College – from virtual tours of campus and the Smart Farm Operations Centre, to the fall harvest, and even a tour of the livestock pens and a flyover of the sheep flock!
"We were very grateful to be part of this exhibition and teach people about what makes agriculture and ag-technology so exciting! Not only did we get to teach visitors about what makes Western Canada special, but we also saw for ourselves the richness and diversity of agrifood globally from all of the engaging exhibitors at From Seeds to Food 2026. Opportunities like this to share the story of food around the world are truly special."
Connor Fullerton, Project Coordinator, Alberta Applied Research Network, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
Olds College is proud to be part of the global agriculture and agrifood system, and to highlight the amazing work done across our campus as we advance agriculture for a better world.