Spring 2022 Cohort Launching To Support Canadian Agtech Ventures
April 20, 2022 - Foresight Canada is excited to announce a new partnership with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) to advance the growth and impact of our agriNEXT initiative. With the support of FCC, we are expanding our support for the agritech and agrifood innovation community and industry in Canada, with the launch of new agriNEXT events and initiatives, and a new venture training course launching this spring.
“Farm Credit Canada is proud to partner with Foresight to expand support for agricultural entrepreneurs across Canada,” said Rebbecca Clarke, FCC Vice President and Treasurer. “Our funding support for innovative technology and sustainable agriculture, in combination with Foresight’s proven accelerator model, are the keys to unlocking a green and resilient agricultural future for all Canadians.”
Building on the successful bioNEXT, carbonNEXT, and waterNEXT initiatives, agriNEXT will accelerate sector-focused innovators by providing technology- and industry-specific training, mentorship, and ecosystem engagement. This timely initiative capitalizes on Canada’s agricultural and innovation strengths, and governmental areas of focus on food security and resiliency, and is brought to you by Foresight Canada with support from our partners FCC and Natural Products Canada.
“At Foresight, we’re working to catalyze the transformation to a green economy by supporting cleantech innovation through acceleration, adoption, capital attraction, exports, and ecosystem building” says Foresight VP Technology David Sanguinetti, “agriNEXT will drive the growth and scaling of cleantech innovations solving the pressing environmental concerns facing the agriculture sector.”
Although increased agricultural productivity and efficiency are often perceived to be at odds with improved environmental sustainability, both objectives can be met through the adoption of agtech innovations.
Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada’s agritech and agrifood sector will be a critical step in achieving Canada’s net zero ambitions, as well as securing a sustainable future for Canada’s agriculture industry. Learn more about how Canadian companies are reducing agricultural GHG with cleantech.
Foresight has already supported a number of ventures developing technologies that will allow Canada to achieve a resilient and sustainable food future, and agriNEXT’s full suite of programming will allow us to help even more companies validate, scale, and commercialize their innovations. Foresight supported ventures like Terramera have utilized our programs and created meaningful impacts in the sustainability of Canada’s agricultural sector.
Enabled by our new partnership with FCC, Foresight’s first official agriNEXT venture training program begins on April 26, with additional cohorts to follow in Fall 2022. Watch our events page for agritech- and agrifood-specific events and programming launching this spring.
In the meantime, read more about agriNEXT.
Quotes
“This first-of-its-kind sustainable agritech program for innovators and adopters will be transformative for the sector. Enabled by the funding from Farm Credit Canada, agriNEXT will allow for deeper collaboration within the agritech ecosystem. Our programming gives producers an avenue to form partnerships with innovators, and innovators a program where they can validate, scale, and achieve market readiness quickly, enhancing Canada’s food security, and agricultural sustainability.” - Jeanette Jackson, CEO, Foresight Canada.
About Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre
Foresight is Canada’s cleantech accelerator. Foresight supports the identification and validation of cleantech opportunities and the successful commercialization of solutions. We bring together industry, government, academia, investors, and innovators to address today’s most urgent climate issues and support a global transition to a green economy. Find out more at www.foresightcac.com. Follow on Twitter @ForesightCAC.
About agriNEXT
AgriNEXT is a pan-Canadian, agritech-specific accelerator and network hub established by Foresight to drive development and scaling of Canadian cleantech ventures that address the environmental and competitiveness pain points of our agriculture industry. agriNEXT focuses on ventures with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4-9+ and accelerates them through technology and industry-specific training, mentorship and ecosystem engagement, and connections to funders, investors, and corporate partners.
Media Contact
Tyler Klinkhammer
587-582-7177
tklinkhammer@foresightcac.com
