Simpson Centre hosts roundtable on the future of digital agricultural tech

On May 29, leaders from across Alberta’s agriculture, technology, and research communities gathered in Edmonton to explore a pressing topic: the digitalization of crop and beef production.

Hosted by the Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy, part of the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM), the event — Promoting Digitalization in Crop and Beef Production — brought together producers, agricultural technology (agtech) developers, policymakers, and academics to discuss how issues impacting Alberta's agricultural sector, such as: 

• how to close the gap between data and decision-making
• build trust in new digital tools
• strengthen policy and infrastructure needed to support widespread adoption of agtech

The roundtable welcomed 65 attendees and was part of the Simpson Centre’s Alberta Digitalization Agriculture (ABDIAG) program, a Government of Alberta–funded program that works to identify both the challenges and opportunities for the digitalization of Canada’s agriculture sector.

Uneven adoption of digital tools a concern

A consistent concern raised throughout the day was the uneven adoption of digital agriculture in Alberta—driven not by a lack of tools, but by communication gaps, high costs, and trust-related challenges.

“What stood out in this roundtable is the shared recognition that digitalization in agriculture is no longer just about adopting new tools, it’s about redesigning systems,” says Guillaume Lhermie, Director of the Simpson Centre. 

“Producers, tech developers, researchers, and policymakers all see the same challenges: fragmented efforts, uneven access to knowledge, and a lack of long-term infrastructure.”

Rather than focusing on technology alone, the roundtable sessions explored the broader conditions needed to support adoption: 

• policy alignment
• practical training
• rural infrastructure
• trust 

“We’re still lacking a national strategy that brings together producers, educators, and technology developers in a meaningful way,” says Hanan Ishaque, Senior Policy Analyst with the Simpson Centre. “If we look at Australia or even our own dairy sector, success comes when incentives, innovation, and on-the-ground needs are aligned. Without that integration, adoption stays fragmented.”

Event builds networks for future collaboration

Through these discussions, opportunities for future collaboration began to take shape. Participants expressed strong interest in developing shared data governance frameworks, co-creating training programs, and piloting region-specific digital solutions.

By bringing together producer experiences with research and policy, events like this ensure that real-world challenges — such as system interoperability, date ownership and privacy, training and support— are considered when designing digital agriculture programs or veterinary interventions.

Working together will make a real difference

The roundtable closed with reflections from UCVM Dean Renate Weller, who spoke to the larger implications of digitalization for veterinary medicine, food systems, and rural health.

“As researchers, we produce the evidence—but making a real difference takes all of you: producers, industry, and policymakers. When we break down silos and work together, we don’t just talk about change—we make it happen. We’ll get there.”

The Simpson Centre will publish a policy brief in the coming weeks summarizing the event’s key insights and recommendations.

To learn more about the ABDIAG program or to get involved with the Simpson Centre’s ongoing work, visit simpsoncentre.ca.