Federal funding to boost agri-tech and food companies in Southern Ontario

Digital biosecurity software maker Farm Health Guardian Ltd. was among three agriculture tech and processing companies to receive federal funding in an announcement today.

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“This project will support faster commercialization of our patented digital biosecurity technology, which will improve animal health and protect farmers and food companies from the risks of animal disease,” said Rob Hannam, CEO of Farm Health Guardian in a federal news release today.

According to the release, $350,000 in federal funding will support the commercialization of Farm Health Guardian’s software system in Canada.

In 2023, the Guelph-based tech company launched Protocol, billed as a “system us(ing) facial recognition technology to proactively control livestock and poultry barn entry points, enabling farm managers to lower the risk of disease entry and protect animal health.”

The software allows producers to establish virtual fences around barns for trucks and other vehicles, to keep out unauthorized people via facial recognition, and to enforce biosecurity protocols.

Their suite of products also includes Farm Visitor Logbook and Farm Health Protect.

Also part of the announcement was Bioenterprise Canada, an agriculture and food tech accelerator. The federal government announced the non-profit would use nearly $6 million in promised funds to deliver the Sustainable Growth and Adoption Program.

That program is touted to accelerate development of food and agri-tech businesses in southern Ontario and support those businesses to adopt clean technology and practices.

Mapleview Agri Ltd., a milk replacer manufacturer based in Palmerston, Ont., is to receive $1.5 million to expand into a new energy-efficient facility.

“With a FedDev Ontario investment of $1.5 million, the company will adopt specialized equipment to increase production capacity and enhance automation, quality control and efficiencies,” the news release said.