Alberta Invests $1.2M in Digitalization of Agriculture
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134.70874
Summary
The Government of Alberta is providing the Simpson Centre at the University of Calgary with $1.2 million over three years to conduct policy research to better understand where the challenges and opportunities lie for the digitization of agriculture.
Transcript
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there's a lot of excitement in agriculture in alberta right now it's a great time to be in
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agriculture in alberta of course it is one of alberta's most important economic drivers and
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really is a lifeblood of many communities across our entire province and our government is focused
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on growing agriculture in the industry as a whole improving its productivity competitiveness
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and working on its sustainability now digital technologies like sensors artificial intelligence
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and data analytics are showing promise in contributing to this focus however this is new
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ground and it's important that alberta adopt these innovations in a considered strategic manner
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and that's why i'm pleased to announce that the government of alberta is providing the simpson
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center at the university of calgary with 1.2 million over three years to conduct policy
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research to better understand where the challenges and opportunities lie for the digitization of
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agriculture now the simpson center will gather digital experts farmers and ranchers and
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producers to facilitate discussions about these digital technologies and determine how they can
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be adopted more effectively among these folks are representatives from the alberta beef producers
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and the united farmers of alberta who i'd like to thank for taking up the cause and participating in
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this very exciting work this funding will improve the understanding of digital technology and agriculture
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amongst producers and policy makers which will help ensure that alberta's adoption of these technologies
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is strategic and done in the most effective manner possible now when premier smith appointed me as
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minister of agriculture and irrigation she tasked me with supporting
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alberta producers as they work tirelessly to feed our families here at home and families across the globe
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and the funding today will support this work helping our producers maintain their position as global leaders
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in innovation i look forward to working with the simpson center to develop ideas and inform
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government policy that helps producers adopt these technologies to increase production and improve food security
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agriculture has and always will be a huge part of alberta's landscape which is why our government
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will continue to look for ways to make the sector even more resilient productive and competitive in the global space