Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, September 10, 2024 – The Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) today unveiled the first in a series of 11 stories illustrating the success of its two 2023 funding calls.
CAAIN’s mandate from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is to fund technological responses to the most significant opportunities and challenges facing the nation’s agri-food producers and primary processors. That means supporting promising efforts with the potential to provide economic or environmental value. The featured stories demonstrate that CAAIN is doing just that, as does the $33M it is investing in 35 projects with a combined total value of roughly $100M.
“The future of Canadian agri-food innovation is in good hands,” said CAAIN CEO, Darrell Petras. “This has never been more obvious than it is now. Over the past three years, we have shared the stories of two dozen ISED/CAAIN-supported innovations that are proof positive Canadian entrepreneurs lead the development of the kind of agtech needed to find sustainable approaches to feeding a global population expected to hit nearly 10 billion people by 2050. One of those stories introduced Montreal’s MatrixSpec Solutions and their use of hyperspectral imaging to determine the gender and fertility of pre-incubated eggs.”
Led by McGill University agri-food professor and researcher, Dr. Michael Ngadi, MatrixSpec is on the verge of commercialising a tool called Hyper-Eye that will allow poultry operations to determine the gender of eggs in ovo. This investment will provide a solution to avoid the unnecessary disposal of male chicks and will be welcomed by the egg industry in Canada in its ongoing efforts towards sustainability.
“We initially provided Matrix-Spec with $1,326,888 in project funding. The investment paid off, and Dr. Ngadi’s team made remarkable progress, so much so that we didn’t hesitate to approve a follow-up submission that will take them to the brink of commercialisation,” continued Petras. “Because of its worldwide relevance, this hyperspectral imaging technology has strong commercial potential.”
For more information, read the attached story or check it out online.
“We are pleased that the government’s investment in the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network is allowing the growth of technological innovation and productivity, to the benefit of Canadian consumers and the overall Canadian economy. Strategic risk-taking will help us remain a global leader in technology innovation.”
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
“By supporting MatrixSpec’s hyperspectral imaging technology, CAAIN continues to demonstrate its ability to identify and fund solutions to major challenges facing the agri-food sector. These issues are as important to the international community as they are to Canadian farmers and primary processors.”
Laura Kilcrease, Chair, CAAIN Board of Directors
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The Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) is a not-for-profit company launched in July 2019 with funding of $49.5‑million from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund, and assistance from Alberta Innovates in the form of significant in-kind contributions. CAAIN drives collaborative agri-food technology research and innovation from coast to coast.
| Project Funding Inquiries Darrell Petras, P.Ag. CEO Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network darrell.petras@caain.ca |
Media Inquiries Eric Morin, CMP Manager, Communications and Marketing Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network 780.405.3742 | eric.morin@caain.ca |
