UK-Canada Workshop on Smart Technologies for Agriculture

July 10-12, 2014
Macdonald Campus, McGill University
Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
Overview

The aim of modern technologies, frequently called “precision agriculture” or “smart farming”, involves numerous innovations to help farmers increase crop productivity while conserving their resources. These technologies include automated navigation, proximal soil and crop sensing, remote sensing, variable rate application of agricultural inputs, modelling of agricultural processes, optimization of farm operation logistics, agro-robotics, etc. With a number of similarities in the way smart technologies are adopted in both Canada and the UK, it is important to increase awareness and share successful developments between the Canadian and UK workshop participants. Different smart farming technologies, which are popular today, were invented in both countries at the beginning of the era of precision agriculture. Despite a continuous decrease in support for agricultural engineering research, different academic institutions as well as technology and service providers are world leaders in certain areas. However, due to the emerging concern for global food security, there is growing public interest in technological innovations in agriculture. For this reason, this workshop was organized to initiate a dialog, to seek ways to strengthen on-going technology developments, evaluate the potential for markets for precision agriculture in both countries as well as considering better ways to export UK/Canada-based products and services to other countries.
Documents
Agenda
When? What? Where?
July 10, 2014
18:00-20:00 Welcome dinner Quality Suites Sunroom
July 11, 2014
08:00-08:30 Transportation to campus
08:30-08:40 Registration and opening remarks R3-045
08:40-11:00 Participant Introduction, Challenges and Opportunities
Five-minute Individual Presentations		 R3-045
11:00-12:30 Farm and workshop visit Technical Service Building
12:30-13:30 Lunch MS2-022
13:30-14:15 Nitrogen and Other Chemicals Discussion
Moderator: Paul Miller, Reporter: Nicolas Tremblay		 R3-045
14:15-15:00 Soil and Water Discussion
Moderator: Chandra Madramootoo, Reporter: Richard Godwin		 R3-045
15:00-15:30 Break R3-045
15:30-16:15 Agricultural Automation Discussion
Moderator: John Schuller, Reporter: Sven Peets		 R3-045
16:15-17:00 Energy and Logistics Discussion
Moderator: Vijaya Raghavan, Reporter: Kenneth Sudduth		 R3-045
17:00-17:30 Discussion summary R3-045
18:00-20:00 Workshop dinner Tandoori Bellevue restaurant
July 12, 2014
08:00-08:30 July 11 workshop review Quality Suites Hotel
08:30-10:00 Synthesis of reports and ideas
Moderator: John Stafford		 Quality Suites Hotel
10:00-11:00 Planning the follow up meeting in UK
Moderator: Clive Blacker		 Quality Suites Hotel
11:00-12:00 Lunch Quality Suites Hotel
Accomodations

Quality Suites Montreal Aeroport - please mention "UK-Canada workshop" when making reservation
Contact Information

Viacheslav Adamchuk
Associate Professor in Bioresoruce Engineering
Phone: 514-924-5713
E-mail: viacheslav.adamchuk@mcgill.ca
Home page: http://adamchukpa.mcgill.ca
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