Olds College has received a $250,000 donation from ATB Financial in support of agricultural technology research and education, officials said.
The five-year financial commitment will be used to support the college’s high-tech smart farm, as well as to support the AgSmart technology expo at the college on Aug. 13-14.
College president Stuart Cullum says support for the smart farm through the donation will have long-term benefits.
“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 agriculture sector and together investigating solutions and determine how we can use technology, data and expertise to evolve our existing agricultural practices,” Cullum said in a release.
Curtis Stange, president and CEO of ATB Financial, said supporting the smart farm will help keep Alberta agriculture competitive moving forward.
“We know the ag 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,” said Stange.
“This will further position Alberta and its producers as leaders and keep them competitive while producing world-class products.”
Cullum says the smart farm is a “living lab for hands-on learning, and a place for innovation, validation, demonstration and scaling of smart connected agriculture technology.”
The Aug. 13-14 AgSmart event will “provide farmers with an opportunity to interact with cutting-edge high-tech players and experience the latest innovations first-hand,” he said.
