Conference showcases how leaders across agtech are driving agriculture innovation

Over 210 attendees from across Canada and the globe gathered in Winnipeg on October 23, 2025 for EMILI’s sixth annual Agriculture Enlightened conference.

EMILI’s one-day conference focused on Driving Agriculture Innovation. Attendees heard from 24 smart farm leaders, lawyers, producers, academics, and leaders in digital agriculture about the importance of driving agriculture innovation to increase productivity and sustainability across the sector.

This year’s event drew business leaders, producers, civil servants, technologists and investors from across North America. Some came from as far as Ghana and Mongolia.

Keynote Speaker Mirjana Prica travelled from Australia to share expertise on building a national food and agtech ecosystem. Prica is Food Innovation Australia‘s managing director. She shared her perspective on how to scale agtech ecosystems, and her insights on what the next big opportunities in agtech are around the world. She talked about the value of bringing diverse cohorts of businesses together in a concentrated region to build “engines of growth” that share dialogue, resources, and opportunities to unlock the potential of the sector.

The audience had the chance to hear an insightful conversation between Gary Mar, president and CEO of Canada West Foundation and Bram Strain, president and CEO of Business Council of Manitoba. They discussed agriculture’s position in the shifting global trade landscape; from the state of trade relationships, to the importance of diversification and strategic policy-making amidst a volatile market and geopolitical instability.

24 speakers share expertise

The day began with a presentation by Jacqueline Keena, highlighting some of EMILI’s 2025 milestones including the development of a new strategic plan focused on driving agriculture innovation through innovation, partnership, and engagement.

Attendees had the chance to learn about spray drones and emerging agtech regulations from the diverse perspectives of a lawyer and a researcher in a panel featuring MLT Aikins LLP lawyer Erika Carrasco and Corteva Agriscience Field Modernization Scientist Kevin Falk.