Through its two most recent funding rounds, Innovate BC’s B.C. On-Farm Technology Adoption Program (BCOFTAP) awarded 80 farm projects across the province $4.53 million to acquire new technologies that help them stay competitive and efficient.
Vancouver, B.C., January 5, 2026 — Eighty farm projects across British Columbia are modernizing their operations and increasing their competitiveness with support from Innovate BC’s B.C. On-Farm Technology Adoption Program (BCOFTAP).
“Technology is helping farmers in British Columbia and across the country overcome challenges and increase efficiencies in their operations,” says the Honourable Heath MacDonald, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “With investments through this program, more of the province’s farmers have been able to take advantage of available technology to support their long-term competitiveness and resilience.”
Through Calls 2 and 3 delivered across the last year, BCOFTAP awarded $4.53 million to help producers acquire and integrate new technologies that improve efficiency, address labour shortages, and future-proof their businesses in a rapidly changing sector. The program is delivered by Innovate BC with funding from the governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
“Keeping our agricultural sector at the forefront of innovation is essential to securing our food supply, reducing our carbon footprint, and supporting a vibrant economy,” said Lana Popham, B.C. Minister of Agriculture and Food. “We’re proud to support farmers and food producers as they embrace cutting-edge tools—like robotics, sensors, and software that tackle labour challenges, improve efficiency, and boost productivity. The creativity and diversity of projects funded so far, along with this latest intake, highlight a bright and competitive future for B.C.’s agriculture sector.”
“Investing in technology is investing in the future of our economy,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Finance. “Through BCOFTAP, B.C. farmers are not only addressing today’s challenges but also building long-term competitiveness in a global marketplace. These innovations ensure agriculture continues to drive growth and resilience throughout British Columbia.”
BCOFTAP accelerates on-farm adoption of commercially ready technologies - from automation and robotics to sensor-based monitoring and digital decision tools. These innovations are reducing manual burden, improving productivity, and unlocking capabilities that would otherwise be out of reach for many farms.
"The B.C. On-Farm Technology Adoption Program helps farmers thrive by connecting them with innovation," said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. "I'm pleased to see eighty farm projects receiving support as farms partner with tech companies to adopt robotics, sensors, and smart software, strengthening food security and boosting competitiveness for producers across the province.”
“B.C.’s farmers are facing new economic and operational challenges, and access to the right technologies can make a meaningful difference to the resilience and competitiveness of their businesses,” said Peter Cowan, President and CEO of Innovate BC. “The strong results from the two most recent calls of the B.C. On-Farm Technology Adoption Program demonstrate both the demand for these solutions and the value of supporting farmers as they adopt commercialized innovations. This program is a key part of Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace platform, supporting a core provincial industry with technologies to address critical challenges by equipping agri-food providers with tools that drive productivity, sustainability, and long-term growth.”
Projects funded through Calls 2 and 3 included the adoption of:
- Autonomous machines, automation and robotics for:
- Propagation (Machines that place seeds, and plant material precisely and repeatably - increasing throughput)
- Nutrient management (Machines that collect and distribute manure autonomously with irrigation water on dairy farms)
- Harvest (Mechanization and other technology to reduce reliance on manual labour and increase throughput.)
- Sorting (Implementations of the newest AI sorting technology enabling more precisions and accuracy)
- Packing (Autonomous robotic arms for packing, stacking and wrapping)
- Sensors and systems to improve:
- Animal and building management outcomes like welfare, production, and efficiency
- GPS monitoring of cattle on remote ranches.
- Remote sensing (weather, aerial, and others)
- Software that streamlines processes, improves visibility and transparency, reduces administrative burdens, and improves overall business outcomes such as:
- Eliminating double data entry
- Real-time visualization of work, trends, and jobs outstanding
- Forecast of supply and demand.
Through Calls 2 and 3, the program engaged farms with varying sizes and commodities across the province, demonstrating that technology adoption is a critical avenue to support their ongoing success.
These latest rounds build on BCOFTAP’s strong momentum. As of November 2025, the program has awarded $6.8 M to support 134 farm projects in B.C. with adopting new technologies since its launch in 2023.
Additional Quotes
Pemberton Valley Farms, Pemberton, B.C.
“Having this carrot harvester has completely transformed our operation. We can now harvest our entire crop before the ground freezes, reduce our costs, and keep B.C.-grown carrots available locally well into the spring — something that was never possible before. Reliable labour for hand harvesting was becoming impossible to find, so this technology is the only real option for farms like ours to grow and stay competitive.”
Amanda Li, QuikFarm, Abbotsford, B.C.
“This machine completely changed the traditional way of plant propagation. It saved more than 10,000 hours of labour and opened new sales opportunities for our farm.”
About the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation and resilience of Canada's agriculture, agrifood and agriculture-based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
About Innovate BC
Innovate BC helps turn bold ideas into real-world impact. As a Crown agency, we serve as a trusted advisor and partner for British Columbia’s innovation ecosystem. Our diverse programs and initiatives advance opportunities for made-in-B.C. innovations, giving companies, industries, and communities the resources they need to grow and prosper.
Media Contact
Michael Gleboff
Communications + Community Manager
mgleboff@innovatebc.ca
604-602-5210
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