AEM recently hosted its third agricultural equipment Demo Day for Government of Canada officials, convening Assistant Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Tom Rosser and approximately 100 federal staff for a firsthand look at cutting edge technologies shaping the future of farming.
In AEM’s largest Demo Day to date, staff from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Privy Council Office, House of Commons, and Innovation Science Economic Development saw equipment demonstrations and spoke with experts from Case IH, John Deere, Kubota, Kuhn, Lely, and Salford. Featured equipment innovations included precision agriculture spraying tools, self-repair strategies, automated dairy equipment, and fertilizer and tillage applications — showcasing how growers can take advantage of innovative technologies to conserve resources and boost operational efficiency.
Hosted by Blackrapids Farm in Ottawa on Aug. 20, the event was designed to bridge the gap between policy and practice by providing insights on how farmers are doing more with less, at a time when the agriculture industry in Canada must further modernize to meet growing international demand.
“Demo Days give federal officials a unique, hands-on understanding of how precision agriculture tools are transforming Canadian farms,” said Alexander Russ, AEM’s senior advisor for global public policy. “By seeing these tools in action and maintaining an open dialogue, regulators and the industry can work together to realize the Canadian agriculture industry’s full potential.”
AEM hosted the event in collaboration with the Grain Farmers of Ontario, CropLife Canada, and Fertilizer Canada to ensure the government heard from a diverse group of industry stakeholders that bring a broad spectrum of expertise — from crop production to nutrient management.
As federal agencies begin to prioritize the advancement of agriculture projects and cutting red tape, AEM’s Demo Days continue to be a great showcase for how precision technology will help Canadian agriculture thrive.
