By rdnewsNOW Staff

Innovative Excellence

Olds College Smart Farm honoured for innovation excellence

Apr 27, 2021 | 6:07 PM

Olds College has been recognized for its innovation in the creation of the Olds College Smart Farm and smart agriculture ecosystems.

The institution has been awarded with a Silver Applied Research and Innovation Excellence award from Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan).

College officials say the Olds College Smart Farm is at the heart of the Smart Ag Ecosystem at Olds College. Launched in the summer of 2018 on a 100-acre parcel of land, it has now expanded to encompass the College’s entire 2,800 acre farming operation.

“We are delighted to have received a Silver Applied Research and Innovation Excellence Award,” says Stuart Cullum, President of Olds College, in a press release.

“Our Smart Ag Ecosystem encompasses our Smart Farm, smart ag applied research, innovation and entrepreneurship programming, and ag technology academic programming to create a place for producers, industry partners, SMEs, students and faculty to look at the opportunities and challenges facing the agriculture industry and investigate solutions to transform agriculture for a better world. I would like to thank our peers and CICan for recognizing Olds College with this award.”

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The CICan Awards of Excellence recognize best practices from institutions across the country, as well as Individual leadership and achievements.

“It is because of dedicated people working hard every day to improve educational programs and campus life, that colleges and institutes are able to offer such remarkable student experiences and training opportunities,” adds Denise Amyot, President and CEO of CICan.

“This strong leadership was on full display this year, as COVID-19 forced all of us to adapt and innovate to meet unprecedented challenges. We are thrilled to honour these leaders and innovators who make the entire system stronger, more inclusive and more responsive to the needs of students, as well as employers.”

In December 2020, Olds College was recognized as one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges by Research Infosource, and in February 2021, Dr. Joy Agnew, Associate Vice-President, Applied Research at Olds College was named in the Top 50 most influential people in Canadian Agriculture by Canadian Western Agribition (CWA).