As Olds College gets ready to launch its new college smart farm initiative this spring, the proposed creation of 3,000 new technology spaces in Alberta post-secondary institutions is being welcomed by school officials.
Stuart Cullum, president of Olds College, said the new spaces under the proposed Economic and Diversification Act will help meet a growing demand for agriculture education across Canada.
“We are seeing an increase in the application of technology in all sectors and Olds College has several initiatives underway to respond to the corresponding demand for graduates who are as adept in the use of technology as they are in the practice of agriculture and food production,” Cullum said in a press release last week.
“Our industry is highly competitive globally in optimizing technology and science for the efficient use of land and water in agri-food production.
“This is essentially the definition of smart agriculture and Olds College is positioning to play a leadership role in supporting the industry by developing hundreds of new learning spaces in the years ahead for Alberta students.”
For more than 100 years Olds College has “delivered educational programming and applied research for students who are interested in pursuing dynamic careers in the agriculture sector,” he noted.
The recent establishment of the Werklund Agriculture Institute at the college is an example of smart technology at work in agriculture education, he said.
“The Werklund Agriculture Institute is a hub for leadership, education and applied research in smart agriculture,” he said. “The institute will be home to a Smart Agriculture Community of Excellence which will link students to a community of industry leaders, researchers, investors, producers, technology companies, entrepreneurs and startups.”
Last year philanthropist David Werklund and his partner Susan Norman gave Olds College $16 million to help establish the institute.
A new producer mentor program will be offered through the institute, giving students “opportunities to partner with world class agriculture business leaders in a year-long full cycle of agriculture production,” he said.
The college’s smart farm program, which will be launched this spring, will benefit students and the overall agriculture industry, he said.
“Working with industry partners from the agriculture and technology sectors, the college is incorporating commercially available smart connected products and connectivity and data management solutions to its existing farm operation in order to provide cutting-edge learning and applied research environments for students, lifelong learners, and industry partners,” he said.
“The agriculture sector in Alberta is a key industry for our economic diversification and prosperity. Smart agriculture that builds upon a history of economic and environmental sustainability will be key.
“Technology and its effective use and integration will be a key enabler for the sector, and this will require significantly more spaces for teaching and learning.”
The college will be continuing to work to increase enrolment in the agriculture technology stream, he said.
“We applaud the government of Alberta for investing in the technology sector and look forward to developing new and exciting learning experiences that support career opportunities throughout Alberta’s growing agriculture sector,” he said.
It is not yet known exactly how many of the 3,000 new spaces will come to Olds College.
