The Honourable Evan Solomon, Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation visited EMILI’s Innovation Farms to discuss AI innovation and get a firsthand look at the important work taking place to advance agtech in Manitoba.
“This week in Winnipeg was about practical AI and Manitoba’s place in Canada’s innovation economy,” he said in a post on LinkedIn after the event. “I visited Manitoba Innovates and EMILI Innovation Farms to see how Manitoba is supporting startups, agtech and real-world technology adoption.”
EMILI is very proud of the work taking place in Manitoba to drive agriculture innovation, and how the impact is stretching across Canada with the recent launch of the AIVA Network which EMILI is a co-founder of. It was an honour to share details and answer questions about 30+ projects being tested and demonstrated on EMILI’s Innovation Farms this season, including Verge Ag, Cellar Insights, Agi3, Geco Strategic Weed Management, Miraterra, GrainFox, and more.
During a tour of Innovation Farms, EMILI discusses in-field technology such as Agi3’s Crop Sentry station. (Photo credit: EMILI)
The tour took place following the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s Conversation with Minister Solomon event on Tuesday, July 7, which EMILI was a sponsor of. The event provided an opportunity for Manitoba business leaders to learn more about the vision behind Canada’s new AI strategy, and what it means for businesses, workers, and Canada’s long-term competitiveness.
EMILI CEO Jacqueline Keena discusses work taking place to advance AI and emerging technologies at Winnipeg Chamber event (Photo credit: EMILI)
“I can’t think of a better avenue for Canada to become a leader in responsible AI adoption than embracing and supporting the amazing innovation already happening in Canadian agriculture,” said EMILI CEO Jacqueline Keena during the event.
In July 2026, the Honourable Evan Solomon visited Innovation Farms to see firsthand how agtech innovation is advancing here in Manitoba. (Photo credit: EMILI)
By providing innovators space on a full-scale commercial farm, EMILI is able to evaluate the benefits of technology in real-world settings. As data quality improves and AI platforms continue to evolve, the value they can deliver to farmers will only increase. But before AI can be adopted across more Canadian farms, it needs to be demonstrated in real-world settings across the Canadian Prairies. It is an honour to engage in these important conversations and showcase some of the innovative work happening here in Manitoba on EMILI’s Innovation Farms powered by AgExpert.