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By Kenneth Cheung

FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE

Saskatchewan’s tech industry’s rapid growth, supporting agricultural innovation

Sep 11, 2024 | 12:57 PM

A new report shows Saskatchewan’s tech industry experienced a 108.6 per cent increase in employment growth rate since 2019 and a North Battleford farming tech company hopes to capitalize on that growth.

Combine Settings was founded in 2019. It provides a platform for farmers nationwide to exchange knowledge about farming tips and solutions for farming equipment issues.

“It’s a peer-to-peer learning atmosphere,” said business co-owner and farmer Trevor Scherman.

He said collaborating with local technology companies can help farmers grasp the digital world’s terminology and online business processes.

“They [tech companies] dumbed it down for me so I could talk with those people with understanding. That stuff doesn’t happen in one day like I want it to. So, there’s a big learning process for me and other farmers to understand, so we can ensure they’re using that technology to their advantage.”

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The report commissioned by Innovation Saskatchewan shows the province’s technology sector is on track to meet and exceed Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan goal of tripling the tech sector by 2030. The report also shows that the tech sector accounted for 10 per cent of all job creation in the province from 2016-2023.

“The report highlights how Saskatchewan has developed a business-friendly tech ecosystem accelerating new technologies, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and creating new employment opportunities,” Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan Jeremy Harrison said in a recent release.

He added there is tremendous opportunity in agriculture with tech innovation. Since 2017, programs such the Agtech Growth Fund (AGF) have helped reduce technical risk and incentivize local investments in Saskatchewan companies. AGF is a research and development funding program designed to accelerate the commercialization of game-changing technological innovations in the province’s agricultural sector.

Scherman said traditional farming knowledge is typically handed down through generations, but incorporating technology into farming practices can preserve the knowledge and facilitate the adaptation of traditional farming methods to meet modern standards.

“I think that’s where AI and a lot of technology, self-driving equipment, and self-setting equipment will be the lead. Whether it be soil mapping or crop mapping, that’s all technology, and it all makes Saskatchewan stronger and more competitive in the world market,” he said.

He said with more farmers embracing locally developed agtech, the province is the perfect place to test and grow products and businesses.

The report shows that 14 companies have been added since 2019 — five of which have 100 or more employees — for a total of 347 tech companies in 2023.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com