b'IN A SEA OF TECHNOLOGY,SEED STANDS OUTThe Olds College Field Crop Development Centre has big goals as 2030 approaches, including seeing its barley varieties dominate the western Canadian landscape.Marc ZienkiewiczIN THE VAST PRAIRIES of Alberta, Olds Colleges Field Cropcreating an environment that bridges the gap between seed Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovationand smart technology, Ormann said. We believe that for any and research. The FCDCs commitment to applied research hasother tool to truly revolutionize agriculture, we must begin driven it to seek effective means of disseminating its findingswith the most fundamental of technologieshigh-quality and creating a positive impact on the farming community. seed. One such avenue that aligns with its mission is AgSmart,As the saying goes, it all starts with a seed. To demon-an annual event held in Olds, Alta., dedicated to showcasingstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together ofseed value chain as an integral part of the industry, Ormann the FCDCs annual Field Day and AgSmart last month provedsaid.to be a natural fit. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction withThe Birth an AllianceAgSmart for the first time from Aug. 1-2. FCDC ProgramThe idea of the FCDC Field Daytraditionally held in Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of DevelopmentLacombejoining forces with AgSmart emerged when staff Todd Ormann sat down for an interview to discuss the sig- realized the potential synergy between the two events. With nificance of the two events taking part together and what thejust a few days separating both AgSmart and the FCDC Field future holds. Day this year, a proposal was put forward to merge them The mission of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plantinstead of keeping them separate. breeding and new seed varieties, specifically barley and triticale.The partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential While conducting research is essential, it becomes even moreto drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider com- technologies like drones and digital imaging becoming integral munity, the pair said.to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venueassess thousands of plants manually, Agblor said. for the FCDC to showcase its research. This union betweenInstead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experi- about by smart technologies. These advancements make breed-ence for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals.This goes beyond mere event collaboration. Its about The staff of the Field Crop Development Centre pose on the morning of this years FCDC Field Day held during AgSmart on Aug. 2.4GERMINATION.CASEPTEMBER 2023'