OLDS — Olds College and Nufarm Agriculture Inc. have signed an agreement to collaborate in research, development, and testing of agriculture technologies and products at the Olds College Smart Farm.
Nufarm has committed to spend $1 million via the agreement over five years
The partnership was announced Aug. 2 during Olds College’s annual AgSmart agriculture and technology exposition, held Aug. 1-2 on campus.
Nufarm country lead Boyd Bergstrom said the research facility, which will be located in the old bioreclamation facility in the northeast part of the campus, will be the first Nufarm technology development station in Canada.
It will result in the hiring of about two full-time personnel and a couple of Olds College summer students.
Plans call for the approximately 7,000-square-foot building to be renovated this fall with a goal to be up and running by the 2024 crop season.
Nufarm, a company that originated in Australia, specializes in crop protection and seed technologies, based on crop variety and soil zone.
The agreement establishes a framework for the development and testing of agriculture technologies, plot trials of chemistry and biological technologies, agronomic training, and applied research projects related to smart agricultural technology.
As part of the deal, Nufarm will test crops on up to 80 acres of land in the Smart Farm.
“Today marks a significant milestone for Nufarm as we expand our innovation and development capabilities in Western Canada through this agreement with Olds College.
“These new capabilities will be required to test our broadly growing portfolio of herbicides, fungicides and pesticides, plant growth regulators and yes – biological solutions,” Bergstrom told the crowd gathered for the announcement.
“It’s important that we strive for design for Canadian farmers but also tested in Canada as well, and that’s why this partnership is so important for us.
“We actually plan on launching over 20 new products over the next three years in the Canadian marketplace."
He cited a few examples of Nufarm products generated from research.
One product will help farmers deal with kochia, a disease that’s shown a frustrating ability to build up resistance to various chemicals aimed at killing it.
He said another product will create sustainable aviation fuel from canola for airlines.
Yet another will provide omega-3 fatty acids, vital for human health, from canola oil, rather than the traditional source – fish.
“There’s only so many fish in the sea. Now we can get our omega-3 from canola, and get it sustainably,” Bergstrom said.
Olds College president Ben Cecil said the partnership is a win/win for the college and the company.
“It’s a wonderful fit for them and for us to see that facility used, being used by an incredible partner and of course, being very close to the land they’re going to do their research on is critical for them,” he said during an interview with the Albertan.
The Albertan asked Bergstrom why Nufarm chose Olds as its location for their first research station in the country.
“Well, I mean, the college is just such an innovator in Canada," he said.
“We felt the collaboration made a lot of sense: some existing facilities, existing knowledge. And the people – you’ve got a bank of students and knowledge here that we can continue to feed off of.”
It was noted that Nufarm is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary of operating in Canada.
