Canada’s Minister of Finance and National Revenue, François-Philippe Champagne, visited Olds College of Agriculture & Technology on Sept. 9, 2026, to see firsthand how the institution is contributing to innovation and sustainability in Canada’s agricultural sector.
During the visit, Champagne toured several facilities on campus, including the Olds College Smart Farm, the Werklund Agriculture and Technology Centre, and the feedlots operated by the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production. The tour gave the minister a look at the college’s applied research work, its partnerships with industry to test new technologies, and its programs training students for careers in agriculture.
In a statement, Champagne said the work underway at Olds College reflects the strength of Canada’s agricultural sector, noting that the institution’s efforts to validate new technologies and train workers are supporting economic growth in Alberta and across the country.
The Olds College Smart Farm, which spans 3,300 acres, has worked with close to 500 agricultural companies since 2018 to help move new technologies toward practical use on farms and ranches. According to the college, collaboration with industry now makes up about 40 per cent of its applied research revenue.
The college also draws international attention to Canadian agricultural technology, hosting more than 3,000 visitors annually from over 34 countries. It maintains partnerships with other academic institutions involved in agricultural research, including the University of Alberta, the University of Guelph, and the University of Saskatchewan.
Todd Ormann, Olds College’s vice president of external relations and research, said the college was glad to host the minister and show him the work happening on the Smart Farm. He said discussions during the visit touched on how testing new tools and techniques — such as autonomous equipment, crop treatments, agricultural drones, and livestock diagnostic technology — helps producers save time and money while helping companies bring products to market.
Beyond the campus tour, college leadership used the visit to raise policy issues with the minister, particularly around federal funding for applied agricultural research. Discussions centered on the case for more predictable, long-term operational funding rather than short-term support, which the college says is needed to sustain multi-year field trials, retain researchers and skilled staff, and plan infrastructure upgrades to keep Canadian agriculture competitive internationally.
Olds College describes itself as part of the broader economic infrastructure supporting Canadian agriculture, aiming to help farm and ranch operations in Alberta and nationally remain resilient and innovative going forward.
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