: The Olds College of Agriculture & Technology research team flies drones over the Saskatchewan Smart Farm to gather baseline data. (Olds College)

By rdnewsNOW staff

collaboration

Olds College partners with SaskTel on Craik smart farm

Oct 13, 2022 | 12:37 PM

Olds, Alta.- Olds College is partnering with SaskTel on its Saskatchewan Smart Farm, located near the town of Craik, Sask.

The two organizations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which Olds College explains will see them collaborate to solve some of the largest challenges currently facing agriculture technology, including rural connectivity.

The partnership will leverage the 800-acre smart farm in Craik to advance and accelerate ag-tech development and innovation for producers, learners, and agri-food companies across Saskatchewan through applied research, technology demonstration, data utilization, and commercial-scale validation.

“We are delighted to partner with SaskTel, a leader in connectivity, Internet of Things (loT), and customer service in Saskatchewan,” comments Patrick Machacek, Vice President, Development & Strategy, Olds College. “With the recent expansion of the Olds College Smart Farm into Saskatchewan, we are continuing to expand and build a smart ag ecosystem that is focused on driving innovation for western Canada’s ag sector. Thanks to partnerships with industry leaders, such as SaskTel, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology will provide ag-tech training and research opportunities that align and support the needs of Saskatchewan learners, producers, and the agri-food industry.”

Doug Burnett, SaskTel President and CEO adds, “As Saskatchewan’s homegrown communications provider, we are pleased to collaborate with Olds College of Agriculture & Technology on this exciting project which will further expand our role in helping to develop, test, and facilitate the wider adoption of innovative new ag technologies that will enable producers to modernize their operations and keep pace with the growing demand for sustainable and trusted food sources.”

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Olds College of Agriculture & Technology is home to Canada’s first Smart Farm, and in 2022 expanded into Saskatchewan thanks to a gift of 800 acres from Margery Steckler and her late husband, George Steckler.

The Olds College Smart Farm is a cutting-edge learning environment that has grown to include 3,600 acres of farmland, and infrastructure, a release states.

Described as a giant lab that provides the ag sector with a venue for commercial-scale applied research, it also focuses on teaching students how to integrate, manage and leverage ag technology for the enhancement and sustainability of agri-food production.