The Smart Farm, unveiled at Olds College this past Wednesday, June 27 will almost certainly bring some new jobs to Olds, as various industries collaborate with the college in the new venture.
But it's too early to say how many jobs will be created, Olds Institute executive director Mitch Thomson says.
Thomson was among about 250 people who were on hand as Olds College president Stuart Cullum officially unveiled the initial 110-acre portion of the farm. Eventually it will grow to about 1,000 acres, he said.
The Smart Farm will bring students, information technology firms, and agriculture companies together to develop and test the latest high-tech agriculture equipment.
The Smart Farm is part of the Werklund Agriculture Institute (WAI), which will specialize in smart agriculture.
That institute was made possible as a result of a $16-million donation announced last year by David Werklund and Susan Norman.
Thomson is excited about what this farm could do for the town.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for the community of Olds to establish the technology sector in agriculture right here in Olds," Thomson said during an interview with the Albertan.
"It's using the access that we have as a community -- the talent and structure that's in place -- to really move the community forward and create new economic opportunity."
"There will be jobs directly created out of the production of smart agriculture but there will also be new learning opportunities and new thought leaders that'll come from the community to serve the greater agriculture industry," he said.
Thomson said it's too early to know how many jobs this farm might create -- directly or indirectly in Olds, but "we do look forward to very positive things in the future."
Cullum told reporters the Smart Farm "provides a venue for companies and entrepreneurs to bring new technology; to develop it, test it, scale it and demonstrate it for the industry."
"And probably most importantly, it provides a tremendous learning space for our students to see the kinds of technology that is going to be a part of the sector in the future," he added.
Cullum said the town has been a key partner with the college as it has developed. The provision of high-speed Internet via O-NET is one example. He expects that to continue.
"We do see a really important synergy with the town and what we're doing here in supporting the agriculture industry, but also the economic prosperity of this community," he said.
Cullum said thanks to developments like the Smart Farm, Olds College is expected to experience "a significant period of growth."
"Agriculture, in my opinion, is going to be the future of our economic prosperity in this province -- agriculture and food, and what we're seeing is we're seeing an integration of agriculture and technology.
"And so whereas maybe years ago, it was all about bringing farm kids to places like Olds College, now it's about bringing individuals who are interested in IT and business systems and computer science. It's those kind of experts that we're going to need in this sector in order for it to be successful.
"And that's exciting, because I think it just brings so many different kinds of people into the industry who maybe didn't see a future in it," he added.
