Northern Ontario conference offers a glimpse into the future of farming

Jan 15, 2026

On Feb. 6 and 7 , the Northern Ontario Agriculture Conference will welcome attendees to Sudbury to discuss a future-forward approach to agriculture in the North.

For Emily Seed, the executive director of Northern Ontario Farming Innovation Alliance (NOFIA), the host of the conference, “future-forward” means building an industry that’s sustainable in the long term for multiple generations to come.

“[The conference will look] at all aspects of sustainability, like what the optics of successful farm succession look like, and environmental sustainability like healthy soils, and even accessing funding,” Seed told Northern Ontario Business.

Around 150 producers, students, researchers, agribusinesses, and agricultural stakeholders from across Ontario and beyond will discuss topics related to building industry capacity, developing resources beyond primary production, local food procurement, funding and financing, and improving sustainable animal health and soil health.

Under its 2026 theme, “Celebrate the North: Innovative. Connected. Sustainable,” the conference’s speaker sessions and panels will also feature innovative technology and research, with a focus on cutting-edge tech and AI.

“There are a lot of funding opportunities and hype around AI, but what does it actually mean for agriculture?” said Seed. “We want to come back to basics and ask how we can work with this tool … and what are the practical uses from an agricultural perspective.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Avery Swartz, CEO and founder of Camp Tech, a national leader in tech and AI skills training for small businesses and non-profits.

Swartz will be speaking about how AI can be used for agri-businesses in her keynote address, entitled “AI Fundamentals for Agriculture.”

Seed said most northern farmers are in the dark about how to gain a foothold on AI applications for their farms.

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