Key Takeaways:
- Zone Agtech, with industry partners, has selected 25 companies for its AgXis Program, focusing on advancing agricultural technology in Quebec’s horticultural sector.
- AgXis was co-created with five horticultural associations and aims to address labor and operational challenges through innovative technologies.
- Selected companies will participate in a four-month intensive program featuring coaching, training, and real-world demonstrations to accelerate tech adaptation.
- The program is supported by sponsors like Taste of the North and Dubois Agrinovation, part of a broader initiative to promote agricultural technology adoption.
Advancing Agricultural Innovation with AgXis
Zone Agtech, in collaboration with five Quebec horticultural associations, has announced the 25 companies chosen for its AgXis Program, designed to bring advanced agricultural technologies to Quebec’s horticultural sector. The program addresses critical challenges, including labor shortages and operational efficiency, by accelerating access to innovative solutions.
According to Marilou Cyr, General Manager of Zone Agtech, “With increasing extreme weather events and persistent labor shortages, it has become crucial to develop targeted technologies for Quebec’s horticulture sector. As Quebec’s agritech innovation center, we’re thrilled with the response from agtech companies to the AgXis Program and look forward to working with the selected companies over the coming year.”
Companies Selected by Industry Experts
The program attracted nearly 50 local and international applicants, and 25 were chosen by pilot committees of horticulture producers to ensure the solutions address real needs. The selected companies and their program allocations are as follows:
| Programme AgXis Maraicher | Programme AgXis Pommes | Programme AgXis Pommes de terre | Programme AgXis Fraises et framboises | Programme AgXis Serres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innoptech | Neova | Picketa | InnovaPlant Inc. | Bloom Climate |
| Désherbex | Scoutlabs | Agurotech | EPrecision | Hexafarms |
| Équipements Vegtech | Robotic Perception | Programme AIR | Neupeak Robotics | Ecoation |
| Revtech | Vivid Machines | Kinova Inc. | AgroKoncep | |
| Systèmes Inc. | Dogtooth | Koidra | ||
| Alliance Solutions |
Intensive Program to Support Technology Integration
From November 2024 to March 2025, the selected companies will participate in an intensive program that includes coaching, co-development workshops, and support from over 50 technology experts. In summer 2025, selected technologies will undergo real-world demonstrations in farms, orchards, and greenhouses across Quebec. The Horticultural Innovation Network (REIH), in collaboration with Zone Agtech, will facilitate the transfer of knowledge to Quebec’s horticultural industry.
Industry Support and Broader Goals
The AgXis Program is backed by sponsors, including Taste of the North and Producetech, whose support has been essential to the program’s success. AgXis is part of a broader strategy by the REIH to accelerate technology adoption in agriculture, co-created with Quebec’s major horticultural associations.
Leaders from Quebec’s agricultural associations expressed support for AgXis. Josiane Cormier, President of the Quebec Strawberry and Raspberry Producers Association, stated, “This strategy presents an exceptional opportunity for strawberry and raspberry growers to position themselves at the forefront of modern agriculture while enhancing sustainability and competitiveness.”
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