The Smart Farm at Olds College is already beginning to take shape, and now the post-secondary institution has received a new donation to help it grow even further.
ATB Financial has announced a donation of $250,000 over a span of five years. The money will be used to grow the college’s high-tech smart farm, and sponsor AgSmart, a two-day ag technology expo taking place August 13 and 14 at the campus.
“The Olds College Smart Farm provides an environment where producers, industry partners, college researchers, faculty and students can explore the challenges and opportunities facing the ag sector and together investigate solutions and determine how we can use technology, data and expertise to evolve our existing agriculture practices,” says Stuart Cullum, president, Olds College.
The Smart Farm project was announced to the public in June of last year. The farm incorporates the latest technologies aimed at improving productivity, while efficiently and sustainably using resources. According to a news release, it is a living lab for hands-on learning; a place for innovation, validation, demonstration, and scaling of smart connected agriculture technology.
“At ATB, we understand agriculture is as important to our future as it was to our past,” says Curtis Stange, president and CEO of ATB Financial. “We know the industry is rapidly changing with technology playing a growing role and we are proud to support initiatives like the Olds College Smart Farm that harness technology and innovation in such an integral sector. This will further position Alberta and its producers as leaders and keep them competitive while producing world-class products.”
Related:
- $1.2M in land donated to Olds College Smart Farm
- Olds College unveils new precision agriculture diploma
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