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February 24, 2025 - 4:30 PM
Millions of government funding is going to AI mushroom picking robots, a technology that turns farm waste into fuel and vertical gardens in the Thompson-Okanagan region.
The Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation and Pacific Economic Development Canada are providing $15.5 million for tech companies working on agriculture projects in B.C., and $2.5 million of it is going to two companies in Salmon Arm, one company in Kelowna and Thompson Rivers University, according to a press release.
“Our agriculture and agritech sector have so much potential, and we want to support them to explore their potential to the fullest. From drone training workshops to robotic mushroom pickers and plant tissue culturing, it’s incredible to see so many amazing projects from B.C. companies,” Vernon-Lumby MLA Harwinder Sandhu said in the release.
4AG Robotics in Salmon Arm is getting $1.47 million for autonomous, AI-enabled mushroom harvesting robots. The robots are a project with Champ’s Mushroom farm. The robots reportedly boost yields by 15 per cent and cut production costs in half.
“We are excited to be one of the projects selected to harness AI and robotics to improve the profitability and stability of B.C.-based mushrooms businesses,” 4AG’s CEO Sean O’Connor said in the release.
Takachar Limited in Salmon Arm is working on portable, low-cost systems to turn biological waste, or biomass residue, into useful products like biochar and biofuels. The company is getting $199,000 for the project in collaboration with Carbon Polit Inc. and Silvatec Consulting Ltd.
“This support made possible a first-of-a-kind pilot in the Okanagan area, turning hazardous, wildfire-prone residues into agricultural amendments. By operating this alongside our local community partner, we pushed the technology to its limits and learned tremendous lessons along the way,” Takachar’s chief technology officer Kevin Kung said in the release.
AgriForest Bio-Technologies in Kelowna is going to use its $678,000 to make an energy-efficient greenhouse-based vertical grow system for plant tissue culture production. The project is going to use an Internet of Things, which is essentially a system of devices that communicate directly with each other like how a smart watch connects to a smartphone.
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“AgriForest Bio-Technologies is developing advanced vertical growing systems using tissue culture and photoautotrophic micropropagation to meet market demands for high-quality berry and wine grape planting stock. This project will enhance local food production, strengthen the economy, and position B.C. as a leader in sustainable agri-tech,” AgriForest’s manager Raj Jampala said in the release.
AgriForest is teaming up with OM Electric, Maxx Installation, Mike Irrigation, Irrigation Direct Canada, Global Industries, CY Grower, and Nutrient Ag Solution on the project.
TRU is using its $110,000 for training sessions on practical farm and ranch uses for drones as well as flight practice. The two-day, hands-on training sessions will be at the Williams Lake campus of TRU and the Kootenay Region.
“Sharing innovative precision ranching methods will help improve outcomes for B.C.’s ranching communities and strengthen regional food security,” TRU’s vice president of research Shannon Wagner said in the release.
“By enhancing the way farmers produce food and scaling up technology, our government is strengthening food security in B.C. while creating more good, family supporting jobs for people,” Sandhu said.
A total of 19 projects around the province are being funded by the $15.5 million which is coming from the province directly as well as through the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation, and industry.
The plan is to upskill 800 people already in the industry and create 194 new jobs as well as grow businesses, producers, and processors.
“Our province is home to vibrant agriculture and technology sectors, and our government is standing strong to keep them safe during times of global uncertainty,” B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Diana Gibson said in the release.
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