Deb Stark

It’s no secret that agriculture and agri-food are major contributors to Canada’s GDP, accounting for significant sales within our borders, and serving as a vital export component. Nor is it a secret that our high-tech innovators are world-class. The Canadian Agri-Food Automation & Intelligence Networks (Well go with "CAAIN" from now on!) job is to bridge the divide that tends to separate these two vital sectors, and to facilitate the kind of collaboration that drives real results. How do we do that? By paying for stuff. That’s right. We manage a pot of money Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada gave us to support important advances in three key agtech focus areas: 1. Automation and robotics 2. Data integration, analysis and decision-making, and 3. Smart farms The way it works is that individuals or organisations with big agricultural or agri-food innovation ideas submit proposals when we launch a competitive process. To be considered, groups must: • Be entirely Canadian and commit to keeping their technology in Canada (remember what the “C” in CAAIN stands for) and • Include at least two small or medium enterprises (SMEs are defined as companies with no more than 499 employees and revenue not exceeding $50M…after all, one of our purposes is to stimulate economic growth) But wait…there’s more. As our name suggests, CAAIN is a network. That means we are about more than simply funding worthy innovative agri-food research initiatives. Above all, we are a connector. If you are a player in the agricultural, agri-food, or high-tech sector…join us. If you are a post-secondary institution with a focus on agriculture or high technology…join us. If you are a VC operation looking to invest in Canada’s future…join us. Membership in CAAIN has its privileges, including becoming part of a community that will help diversify and drive our nation’s economy sustainably in the coming decades. If what were doing resonates, let’s talk.

It’s no secret that agriculture and agri-food are major contributors to Canada’s GDP, accounting for significant sales within our borders, and serving as a vital export component. Nor is it a secret that our high-tech innovators are world-class. The Canadian Agri-Food Automation & Intelligence Networks (Well go with "CAAIN" from now on!) job is to bridge the divide that tends to separate these two vital sectors, and to facilitate the kind of collaboration that drives real results. How do we do that? By paying for stuff. That’s right. We manage a pot of money Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada gave us to support important advances in three key agtech focus areas: 1. Automation and robotics 2. Data integration, analysis and decision-making, and 3. Smart farms The way it works is that individuals or organisations with big agricultural or agri-food innovation ideas submit proposals when we launch a competitive process. To be considered, groups must: • Be entirely Canadian and commit to keeping their technology in Canada (remember what the “C” in CAAIN stands for) and • Include at least two small or medium enterprises (SMEs are defined as companies with no more than 499 employees and revenue not exceeding $50M…after all, one of our purposes is to stimulate economic growth) But wait…there’s more. As our name suggests, CAAIN is a network. That means we are about more than simply funding worthy innovative agri-food research initiatives. Above all, we are a connector. If you are a player in the agricultural, agri-food, or high-tech sector…join us. If you are a post-secondary institution with a focus on agriculture or high technology…join us. If you are a VC operation looking to invest in Canada’s future…join us. Membership in CAAIN has its privileges, including becoming part of a community that will help diversify and drive our nation’s economy sustainably in the coming decades. If what were doing resonates, let’s talk.

Helping to improve the livelihoods of communities in need throughout the world is what Veterinarians without Borders / Vétérinaires sans Frontières is all about. Established in 2005, VWB/VSF works with governments, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, local communities, farmers’ groups, and international agencies, to tackle root-cause issues affecting public health, animal health and ecosystem health in developing communities around the world.

The Golden Triangle Angel Network (GTAN) is a members-only, not-for-profit organization of accredited investors seeking investment opportunities in promising early-stage businesses. In addition to financial support, GTAN members provide dynamic early-stage companies with valuable mentorship and access to capital networks in order to facilitate learning, networking, and growth. GTAN helps accelerate companies into becoming market leaders in their industry by bringing together investment, experience and knowledge. The Golden Triangle area, comprising Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and Stratford, is one of the top five growth areas in Ontario. Having a strong industrial and agricultural base, Kitchener-Waterloo’s high-tech cluster and four major post-secondary institutions, this area has spawned many early stage companies and academic research, as well as nurtured stable employment and prosperity. GTAN operates under the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation’s Angel Network Program and is a part of the Equation Angels group.

The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) is the place for agri-food leaders to come together, share insights and advance ideas on emerging issues facing this important sector. We offer a neutral venue. We conduct sound research. We present solutions. Our work reflects "systems thinking." Food issues are complex and inter-connected. We bring diverse voices "to the table" — from across agri-food supply chains, governments, researchers and among adjacent sectors. We are helping agri-food players identify their pathways to achieve success. We support "champions" to further the work and build momentum for real change. By taking a mid- to longer-term view, we are creating a national dialogue on ways to improve the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, and their policy implications, and contribute to the well-being of Canadians. Established as an independent, non-partisan and not-for-profit corporation in 2004 by the federal government, CAPI is guided by a diverse Board of Directors and an Advisory Committee and works extensively with partners to fulfill its mandate.