Hallie Shoffner field tests ag tech systems on her farm in Arkansas in exchange for equity in the startups.  |  Photo supplied by Hallie Schoffner

Farms grow venture capitalists

Glacier FarmMedia – When Hallie Shoffner runs a trial on her Arkansas farm, she gets an equity stake in the startup whose product she’s testing. She’s a member of AgLaunch, a non-profit focused on boosting agricultural technology development. The equity is part of her reward for participating in their farmer network. “It has always bothered […] Read more

"We first started selling in the U.S. in 2017…. We now have seven products with regulatory approvals in the U.S.," said Darren Anderson, chief executive of Vive Crop Protection, from his office near Toronto. | Screencap via Vive Crop Protection/YouTube

Canadian ag tech firms avoid domestic market

A crop protection company from Ontario says almost all of its sales are in the United States due to Canadian regulations

Vive Crop Protection is a Canadian success story. In the last few years, the Ontario company has received numerous awards to recognize its success. In 2020, the Globe and Mail Report on Business called it one of Canada’s top growing companies. In 2021, Vive was named Company of the Year by Life Sciences Ontario. Related […] Read more

Danish organic dairy farmer Lone Anderson speaks during a panel discussion on sustainability and innovation at the North American European Union conference in Charlottetown, P.E.I.  |  NAEU photo

Gov’t policy on ag technology worries producers

Farmers in Europe and Mexico say roadblocks for some forms of agricultural innovation stand in the way of sustainability

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Farmers from countries reluctant to approve new tools such as gene editing say they could use those technologies to meet demand, be profitable and ensure environmental sustainability. Several representatives, including organic farmers, said during a North American European Union farm leaders conference that innovation is critical. The pandemic, war in Ukraine and […] Read more