Key Takeaways
- Bayer, Zone Agtech, and Axceta have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create an AgriTech innovation consortium in Quebec.
- The consortium aims to advance digital and IoT-based technologies to support farmers and boost the Canadian horticulture industry.
- The initiative will position Quebec as a hub for agricultural innovation, attracting investors and industry leaders.
Bayer’s Crop Science division, Zone Agtech, and Axceta are collaborating to establish an AgriTech innovation consortium in Quebec, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This strategic partnership focuses on enhancing digital and IoT-based technology in the agricultural sector, aiming to position itself as a leader in smart agriculture across Canada.
Marilou Cyr, general director of Zone Agtech, expressed pride in Quebec becoming the launchpad for this initiative, highlighting the area’s robust network of partners and strong AI ecosystem. The consortium will leverage Bayer’s HortiView platform, a digital crop management tool designed to enhance horticultural production. Currently in beta, the platform includes management tools developed by third-party providers that assist growers in optimizing seasonal planning, fertigation, irrigation, and disease management.
Chris Pienaar, Global Fruit & Vegetable Digital New Value Lead at Bayer, praised the Canadian horticulture sector for its advanced and innovative nature, making it an ideal environment for deploying new digital solutions. He emphasized that this collaboration aims to improve efficiency and productivity for growers while enhancing the capabilities of the HortiView platform.
Zone Agtech, which consists of 250 members and partners, will utilize its resources to assess the financial feasibility of the consortium and engage key investors and partners. This initiative is expected to strengthen Quebec’s role as a center for agricultural innovation, attracting top investors and startups in the sector.
Axceta will provide technological expertise as a partner specializing in IoT and digital farming solutions. CEO Sherif Zaroubi noted that this collaboration aligns with Axceta’s mission to support farmers in overcoming workforce shortages and drive local innovation.
The MOU outlines several objectives, including promoting the adoption of digital technologies for better resource management, building a well-funded consortium to foster collaboration among industry leaders and academic institutions, and enhancing sustainability and resilience in horticultural production through data-driven practices.
The consortium will connect a diverse range of stakeholders, including private investors, universities, agricultural associations, retail partners, and financial institutions, to ensure a strong foundation for generating innovative solutions in AgriTech.
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