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![\"AARON](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4398561_web1_EMILI-06.jpg\")
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AARON EPP \/ FREE PRESS <\/p>\n
Kevin Falk, a research scientist at Corteva Agriscience Canada Co., with a DJI Agras T50 drone at Innovation Farms in Grosse Isle on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost importantly, it will help ensure that producers have access to practical tools that make their farms more productive, more sustainable and more resilient.\u201d<\/p>\n
The investment is expected to support 165 new jobs, help train 350 people, assist 150 small- and medium-sized businesses and support the federal government\u2019s $3 billion national food security strategy, Eyolfson added.<\/p>\n
EMILI is grateful for the investment, said Jacqueline Keena, the non-profit\u2019s chief executive officer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really wonderful to get (while) celebrating EMILI\u2019s 10 years of being an organization,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s really going to allow us to support more companies testing and demonstrating their technologies at scale here at Innovation Farms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do this work because we think that producers shouldn\u2019t have to adopt \u2026 new technology before it\u2019s proven at scale,\u201d she added. \u201cThat\u2019s why we play this role to help de-risk technologies along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
The announcement was part of EMILI\u2019s annual field day event, which gives stakeholders an opportunity to learn about the digital technologies the organization is testing.<\/p>\n
The event doubled as an anniversary celebration for EMILI, which was founded in 2016 by a group of community leaders in Manitoba who sought to grow the economy with a specific focus on advancing agricultural technology in the Prairies.<\/p>\n
EMILI has tested and validated 90 projects over the last five growing seasons, said Keena, who has led the organization since 2017. The non-profit has helped its partners attract $20 million in investments and on-board hundreds of customers and staff members.<\/p>\n
This year, EMILI is partnering with 24 innovators to collaborate on 33 unique projects. This includes commercial and pre-commercial solutions EMILI is testing and demonstrating in crops and storage bins across 10,000 acres on its two Innovation Farms sites in Grosse Isle and MacGregor.<\/p>\n
Attendees at Wednesday\u2019s event had the opportunity to learn about four of those projects, including EMILI\u2019s collaboration with Duck Foot Parts Inc. The Saskatoon-based company produces slip-over paddle tines for combine headers that increase harvest efficiency.<\/p>\n
Duck Foot Parts has already tested the product in Brazil, Denmark and Ukraine and knows that it will work in Manitoba, said Kris Kristjanson, sales manager. Still, collaborating with EMILI is advantageous for the exposure.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t AARON EPP \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n Doug Eyolfson announced Wednesday that Prairies Economic Development Canada is investing $3.5 million in Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative, a Winnipeg-based non-profit committed to advancing digital agriculture. Eyolfson made the announcement during EMILI\u2019s annual field day event at its Innovation Farms in Grosse Isle. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re a Saskatchewan-based company, so to be able to get more presence in Manitoba coming to a farm like Innovation Farms is good for us,\u201d Kristjanson said. \u201cIt\u2019s good for us to be able to be here and show our product.\u201d<\/p>\n Attendees also learned about EMILI\u2019s collaboration with Corteva Agriscience Canada Co., which involves testing the efficacy of drones that are used to spray crops.<\/p>\n Kevin Falk, a research scientist at Corteva, said although he has his own research farm near Carman, he appreciates collaborating with Innovation Farms.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t \u201cIt opens up my world from just living 24-7 on a research farm to being able to come here and talk to people \u2026 that are interested in this technology,\u201d Falk said. \u201c(We\u2019re) ensuring that the farmers get the best result because if the farmers succeed, then (we) succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n Ray Bouchard, one of EMILI\u2019s founding board members, said it\u2019s exciting to see how far the non-profit has come in its first 10 years. He praised Keena\u2019s leadership and the work of EMILI\u2019s approximately 15 staff members.<\/p>\n \u201cThings are lined up pretty well for us to continue to play a key role in the ag innovation ecosystem, both here in Manitoba and nationally,\u201d Bouchard said.<\/p>\n EMILI\u2019s 10th anniversary celebrations continue with a few more events this year, Keena said, including the non-profit\u2019s annual Agriculture Enlightened conference in November.<\/p>\n aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Aaron Epp Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. Read more about Aaron<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Aaron produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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