BCCAI: Bridging agritech innovation and economic resilience in B.C.

British Columbia’s agriculture and agrifood sectors are facing unprecedented challenges. Rising production costs, climate volatility, and shifting global trade dynamics are challenging farmers and agri-businesses to adapt faster than ever before. Innovation is essential. But it’s not just about developing new technologies. It’s about making sure workable solutions reach producers, are adopted at scale, and deliver measurable impact where it counts.

The B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI) is designed to bridge this gap. Based at Simon Fraser University, BCCAI connects industry, academia, government, and communities. BCCAI further empowers these groups to develop and bring agritech solutions to market while boosting productivity, profitability, and sustainability through technology.

Since its launch in 2022, BCCAI has supported 32 industry-led projects, invested $17M+ to bring 23 new products and services to market, trained 1,650+ highly qualified personnel, and driven more than $18 million in revenue growth for B.C.’s agri-businesses.

Closing the Commercialization Gap

While Canada is a global leader in agricultural production (B.C. alone generates over $20 billion in revenue annually), the country struggles with putting agriculture innovation into practice. Promising technologies often stall between research and real-world application, leaving small and medium-sized enterprises without access to the tools they need to stay competitive.

BCCAI addresses this challenge through a collaborative model that combines targeted investment, technical expertise, and cross-sector partnerships. By reducing risk in adopting new technology, bringing together collaborators, and accelerating market entry, BCCAI ensures that agritech innovation doesn’t remain confined to labs—it delivers outcomes for farmers, producers, and processors.

Case Studies: Proof of Impact

BCCAI’s collaborative model has already delivered measurable outcomes across B.C.’s agritech sector:

• Nourish Labs advanced its AI-powered fertigation system through BCCAI’s support—improving efficiency in controlled environment agriculture. The project is one of BCCAI’s 74 commercialization opportunities focused on sustainable innovation.

• Agrotek Industries, a 100% Indigenous-owned company, leveraged BCCAI’s expertise to bring certified organic soil amendments to market. This in turn supports regenerative agriculture and economic growth for Indigenous communities.

• QuantoTech Solutions partnered with BCCAI and BCIT to develop 100% compostable produce packaging, aligning with Canada’s environmental goals and addressing sustainability across agri-food supply chains.

• Kahlon Farms optimized early-season strawberry production using precision agriculture and automation.

These success stories, which have driven over $18 million in revenue growth and created 88 new jobs, demonstrate how BCCAI transforms collaboration into economic, environmental, and social impact. Through these partnerships, they’re delivering scalable solutions that strengthen B.C.’s agricultural resilience.

Developing a Future-Ready Workforce

As AI, robotics, and data-driven practices reshape agriculture, B.C. faces a critical skills gap. BCCAI integrates workforce development into its mission, upskilling and training more than 1,650+ highly qualified personnel (including 29 Indigenous trainees) to ensure agri-businesses have the talent required to adopt and scale transformative technologies.

Through partnerships with 37 post-secondary institutions, BCCAI is building a talent pipeline that supports long-term sector growth, rural economic development, and sustainable food systems.

A Collaborative Ecosystem for Growth

With a network of 580+ partners spanning industry, government, Indigenous organizations, academia, and nonprofits, BCCAI serves as a hub for knowledge-sharing and innovation. This collaborative approach accelerates commercialization, while aligning with provincial and national priorities around food security, climate adaptation, and economic resilience.

International partnerships across 12 countries further empower B.C. businesses to engage with global markets and emerging agritech opportunities.

Shaping Canada’s Agritech Future

As climate pressures intensify and global trade landscapes evolve, BCCAI offers a blueprint for transforming agritech innovations into real-world impact. Its integrated model demonstrates that fostering collaboration, supporting commercialization, and developing future-ready talent are critical to building a resilient agricultural economy.

But this is more than a provincial success story. Through world-class research institutions, entrepreneurial spirit, and a diverse agricultural sector, Canada as a whole has the foundation to lead on the international agritech stage. By investing in hubs like BCCAI and embracing a coordinated innovation strategy, Canada can position itself at the forefront of sustainable agriculture; it can address food security challenges on a global scale while driving economic growth at home.

The opportunity is clear. With the right partnerships, a focus on translating innovation into action, and a commitment to collaboration, Canada can harness the power to grow—transforming its innovation potential into lasting leadership in agritech.

Learn more about how BCCAI is advancing agritech innovation: Visit www.sfu.ca/agritech-innovation or connect with Rahul Singh, Director, BC Centre for Agritech Innovation at [email protected].