Potato producer in southern Alberta gets piece of federal AI funding

By Medicine Hat News on July 9, 2025.

@MedicineHatNews

Ottawa’s Prairies Economic Development agency has announced that a Lethbridge County potato producer will receive $920,000 to adopt an optical sorting system with artificial technology to grade tubers and expand offerings.

Phoenix Farms, Ltd., of Monarch, Alta., is listed among seven Alberta companies that will share $10 million in grants to scale-up, initiate AI in operations and spur homebuilding, announced on Monday.

Prairies Can will also provide $500,000 to the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network to demonstrate advantages AI could have in farm and food production.

A total of $5.1 million was announced by Edmonton MP Elenor Olzewski for the commercialization and expansion efforts, while $2.5 million is dedicated in a separate program for regional homebuilding innovation.

New AB Grains head

The interim chair of Alberta Grains will become permanent chair after the organization’s former leader won a seat in the Alberta legislature this month.

Tara Sawyer had been on a leave of absence since May when she announced that she would be the United Conservative Party candidate for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills.

She was elected June 23, and on Tuesday, interim chair Scott Jespersen, who farms near Spruce Grove, was named the permanent replacement.

“I’m honoured to officially take on the role of chair and continue serving Alberta’s wheat and barley farmers,” said Jespersen. “I look forward to building on the progress we’ve made in research, market development, agronomy and policy advocacy.”

Region 2 director Devin Hartzler, of Carstairs area, becomes vice chair, while Region 3 director Stewart Oke, of Delburne, is second vice chair.

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