Supporting Ontario's Ag-Tech Sector
Delivering solutions for Ontario's ag-tech sector
The Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance is committed to working with the province's ag-tech sector to test new technologies, solve challenges and bring innovations to the farm.
Are you an industry partner who wants to test technology in a controlled farm setting with experts? Contact us to start the conversation: alliance@uoguelph.ca.
Partners: Working together for a strong, sustainable sector
The Alliance brings together government, academia and industry for a strong, sustainable ag-tech sector. Partners include:
AgRobotics Working Group
Businesses such as those specializing in machinery and manufacturing, robotics and automation, precision agriculture, food processing, software and mapping, seeds and inputs, livestock genetics, and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)
Making an impact
"Smart" robot for greenhouses and harvesting
Dr. Medhat Moussa
Researchers at the Robotics Institute at Guelph are advancing a harvesting solution that could help tackle labour shortages. Their robot is trained to pick tomatoes, but could be trained to pick peppers or cucumbers, or to detect early signs of disease.
Robots with potential to transform farming
Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald
Robots that seed and weed are being tested at the Ontario Crops Research Centre in Bradford to provide feedback to the manufacturers and improve the designs. The machines can be used to seed, cultivate and weed crops like onions, beets, carrots and more.
Cultivating innovation through academic-private partnerships
Dr. Joshua Nasielski
This research collaboration with Ontario-based Susterre Technologies Inc. provides unbiased, third-party data on a novel planter attachment designed to improve crop establishment in high-residue, no-till farming systems.
Faster and more precise soybean selection through AI
Dr. Milad Eskandari
Combining artificial intelligence (AI) and remote sensing technologies with traditional breeding methods will develop high-yielding, disease-resistance soybean cultivars for both Ontario and international markets.
Robotics for lima bean farmers
Dr. Medhat Moussa
Working with industry partners, Moussa developed an automated robotic system to help farmers manage weeds, leading to healthier crops, higher quality yields and lower production losses. The technology is a tractor attachment that uses computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI).
Securing the future of farming
Dr. Ali Dehghantanha
As farms increasingly rely on new technology like smart systems that control everything from barn temperature to milking robots, cybercriminals see producers as easy prey. Following a series of dairy-sector events, Dehghantanha and his team are developing tools to secure the sector’s digital infrastructure.
Ontario's Agri-Food Research Centres
Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO) owns the province’s network of agri-food research properties, covering 5,600 acres. ARIO provides the spaces and places where ag-tech discoveries move from lab to land. By enabling technology demonstration and implementation, ARIO accelerates the adoption of innovation across Ontario’s agri-food sector.
Additional services and resources
The Research Innovation Office connects U of G ingenuity to the marketplace, acting as a technology transfer, industrial liaison, knowledge mobilization and new venture creation office.
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