Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Canada and Embassy Members Tour the Smart Farm

Olds College was pleased to welcome H.E. the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Canada, Akylbek Kamaldinov, and members from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Canada including visitors from the Canada Eurasia Russia Business Association (CERBA) and Condor Petroleum. The visitors went on a tour of the Olds College Smart Farm, and the College showcased the agriculture technology applied research and data collection taking place on the Smart Farm along with the College’s support for international students.

Attendees included:

• H.E. Akylbek Kamaldinov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Canada
• Mr. Galymzhan Matayev, Representative of the National Company Kazakh Invest in the USA and Canada
• Mr. Shokan Omarov, First Secretary, Embassy of Kazakhstan in Canada
• Mr. Bakhtiyar Kozhamzhar, Third Secretary, Embassy of Kazakhstan in Canada
• Dr. Frank Kense, Regional Director, Canada Eurasia Russia Business Association
• Andrew Judson, Director, Condor Petroleum Inc.

The visitors explored the Smart Ag Innovation Centre, learned about data collection on the Smart Farm, and toured the OMNiPOWER Autonomous Agriculture platform, Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP) feedlots, and Smart Farm fields near campus. James Benkie, Dean of Werklund School of Agriculture Technology, was also able to highlight the Agriculture Technology Programming, hands-on learning, and opportunities for international students with Olds College. 

“It’s beneficial for CERBA to host the Embassy of Kazakhstan and bring them to Olds College for a tour of the Smart Farm to see the digital agriculture technologies being tested here,” says Frank Kense, Regional Director, Alberta Chapter at CERBA. “Canada and Kazakhstan share a similar geography and climate, so a visit to the Smart Farm showcases many opportunities to work together and collaborate going forward. What Olds College is doing on the Smart Farm is amazing and it’s applicable for the future of agriculture to learn more about ag technologies and efficiencies.”

The Embassy members were especially interested in the economic and commercial use of autonomous agriculture equipment, the Smart Farm data collection and connectivity, plus how local producers are able to use digital data to improve their crop production and sustainability. 

“It was a pleasure to host the Ambassador and Embassy members, CERBA, and Condor Petroleum, plus be able to tour them around the Smart Farm and Smart Ag Innovation Centre today,” says Dr. Alex Melnitchouck, Chief Technology Officer - Digital Ag at Olds College. “The value of these visits is exchanging information about how we’re using leading-edge technologies in crop production and livestock along with discussing the education and applied research that happens at Olds College.”