Using tech to keep us fed

Photo: Carmen Weld

With a projected global population of nine billion people by 2050, the pressure is on the agricultural industry to come up with a way to feed us all.

As it stands the industry needs to change, as many experts say we are running out of ways to keep humanity fed.

With that in mind, industry leaders gather in Kelowna this week for the Agritech Innovation Challenge conference, discussing the potential of B.C. innovators and B.C. agrifood leaders to work together.

Dave Smardon with Bioenterprise Corporation explained the critical need for sustainable and efficient 'Agritech'.

“In 2050 we have to produce more food than the entire human history of this planet. Food production has to go up 75 per cent to match a population of nine billion.” said Smardon.

“Seventy per cent of the world's fresh water is used in agriculture, that is an awful lot of fresh water. Thirty-eight per cent of the world's land is used for agriculture. One-in-three work in agriculture.

“The only way we can resolve some of these issues is through innovation.”

Local MLA and Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick spoke at the conference Monday and noted that technology plays a key role in sustaining the B.C. agricultural sector in the long run.

He is optimistic that a combination of leading agricultural practices and advanced technology will enable B.C. to take advantage of domestic and international opportunities.

He brought up a recent visit to a dairy farm that highlighted the advantages of using technology in B.C.

“There was a carousel that was milking 60 cows at a time, all robotically,” said Letnick. “One person to handle more than 1,000 cows in Chilliwack, first in the world. It was amazing. It just opened my eyes.

He said the industry is also using technology that allows them to support, check and grade cherries, apples and other fruits. There is also new drone technology that could someday be able to fly independently to do things like scare away birds etc.

“You'll look across the industry and you'll see all kinds of other great examples,” said Letnick.

“That marriage with technology will help us sustain our B.C. food security. If we really want to feed ourselves, as our province, we have to make sure we have a whole bunch of things going for us.”

Agritech Innovation Challenge aims to bring together innovators, investors, venture capitalists, tech experts and marketing experts to support the next generation of technology development in order to enhance the competitiveness and resiliency of B.C.'s agrifood sector.

It was organized and managed by the BC Innovation Council, a provincial crown agency.

“Drones and cannons, milking robots, computer sorters for size and colour, storage solutions, water management, GPS on combines, GPS for pest management, lasers to process chicken – computers are everywhere,” added Letnick.

“At the end of the day, if we want to encourage young people to take over our farms, take over our processing plants, we have to make sure there is an opportunity for them to make money. That is why I am so keen in what we are doing here today, marrying technology with agri-foods.”