| | United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Limited (UFA) has announced a $500,000 commitment to Olds College and its focus on agriculture innovation and technology.
The five year financial commitment enables Olds College to create the UFA Innovation Lab, located on campus inside the Smart Ag Innovation Centre. Construction is expected to be complete in December 2018.
The lab will be "a dedicated technological hub on campus where students and faculty can gain and share knowledge, build networks and turn innovative ideas into technological solutions that can benefit the agricultural industry,” says Olds College p resident, Stuart Cullum.
"Not only is the donation from UFA an investment in the student experience but it's an investment in the future of agriculture," says Cullum. "Students who have a keen interest on solving issues in the industry, now have a place to go. They’ll be able to explore new ideas, test innovative products and processes, and ultimately express their entrepreneurial creativity in ways that will make a positive impact on Alberta’s agriculture sector."
In addition to the creation of the UFA Innovation Lab, the donation will help fund the Olds College Smart Farm. The Smart Farm uses cutting edge technology to provide a hands-on learning environment for students of the College and an opportunity for industry to develop, integrate and test new agriculture technology and practices.
“The impact of this donation reaches further than the College or even Alberta for that matter,” adds Cullum. “ The UFA Innovation Lab and the Olds College Smart Farm create an open environment for collaboration and research among industry and other post-secondary institutions to work together to advance the agriculture industry. Together we are facilitating engagement to address the issues and challenges facing agriculture, in order for our ag sector to produce more while using less.”
Contact:
Tracey Feist
UFA corporate affairs manager
403-570-4125
Blayne Meek
Olds College director of corporate communications & marketing,
403-556-4760 |
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