Calgary Tech Startup Secures $5M in Federal Funding for AI-Powered Agriculture Platform
AgriSense Technologies will use the investment to expand its crop monitoring system across the Prairies.
Calgary-based AgriSense Technologies has secured $5 million in federal funding to expand its artificial intelligence-powered crop monitoring platform, marking one of the largest agri-tech investments in Alberta’s history.
The funding, announced Tuesday through the Strategic Innovation Fund, will allow the 30-person startup to scale its drone and satellite-based monitoring system to serve grain and oilseed producers across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
How It Works
AgriSense’s platform uses machine learning algorithms to analyze imagery from drones and satellites, providing farmers with real-time data on crop health, soil moisture, pest pressure, and yield predictions. The company says its system can detect crop stress up to two weeks before it’s visible to the human eye.
“We’re giving farmers the information they need to make better decisions, reduce waste, and protect their livelihoods,” said CEO and co-founder Dr. Hannah Olsen, a former University of Calgary agricultural science researcher.
Prairie Expansion
The federal investment will fund the hiring of 20 additional staff, expansion of the company’s satellite data processing capabilities, and partnerships with agricultural cooperatives across the Prairies.
AgriSense currently serves approximately 800 farms across southern Alberta, covering over 2 million acres. The company aims to triple that coverage by 2028.
Growing Alberta’s Tech Sector
The investment highlights Calgary’s growing reputation as a technology hub, particularly in sectors that leverage the city’s traditional strengths in energy and agriculture.
“Calgary is perfectly positioned at the intersection of agriculture and technology,” said Mary Chicken-Chief, CEO of Calgary Economic Development. “Companies like AgriSense show the world that innovation is in our DNA.”
AgriSense was founded in 2022 and has previously received funding from Alberta Innovates and the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program.
