The 2026 Northern Ontario Ag Conference will feature topics on AI, cutting-edge tech, and environmental sustainability

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.

“I think there’s a lot of questions of what AI is and how it can be useful, and that’s why we’re focussing on the fundamentals right now. We’re looking at applications farmers wouldn’t necessarily think of, and how farmers can start to think about how they can use AI on-farm.”

Potential applications include things like digital twinning, a concept taken from the gaming industry that will allow agri-businesses to virtually test business models to determine how they might play out in the market. Seed thinks digital twinning has the potential to streamline production in the agri-food and beverage industry.

NOFIA is also working with the Canadian Agri-food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) to highlight innovative tech coming down the pipeline like eShepherd virtual cattle fencing and farming data management software.

The programming reflects NOFIA’s mandate to focus on sustainable farming innovation. The Temiskaming-based non-profit works to develop strategies and partnerships to ensure the advancement of agricultural research and innovation in Northern Ontario with programs like SNAPP (Sustainable New-Agri Food Products and Productivity).

In addition to generating economic development for Northern Ontario’s agricultural sector, NOFIA provides educational opportunities for both producers and the public through the “Day in Farm Country” tours, and educational, on-farm Diagnostic Days.

This year’s conference will feature panels and speaker sessions on cutting-edge tech and AI applications for agriculture. NOFIA/Supplied

Educational sessions at the conference include a veterinarian-led, hands-on biosecurity workshop for beef farmers. The workshop is funded by the Beef Cattle Research Council and the Beef Farmers of Ontario.

A panel on tile-drainage management best practices, featuring data from the successful drainage project at Huronview Demonstration Farm in Clinton, Ont., will discuss how tillage-draining can protect the environment by reducing runoff.

The conference is also launching three new awards designed to highlight research and innovation in the North. The awards will be given out at the Friday night awards banquet and live auction, with proceeds going to awards funding.

The $1,500 Innovative Northern Farmer Award will recognize innovations in technology, sustainable practices, and other projects that shape the future of northern farming.

Seed hopes the award will ensure farming innovation is shared amongst primary producers in the region, where the geographical spread makes it difficult for farmers to share knowledge.

The NOFIA Bursary Awards feature two $2,000 bursaries for students studying veterinary medicine or agriculture.

“We’ve seen there’s a lack of vets,” said Seed, “So we wanted to focus on youth engagement in Northern Ontario, so we can increase interest in large animal and agricultural programs.”

The Student Research Poster Contest will award cash prizes for the top three undergraduate, master’s, and PhD student submissions that showcase agricultural academic research.

“The work of master’s and PhDs is not necessarily elevated and promoted, so this is a way to highlight the work they’re doing and its importance to Northern Ontario,” said Seed.

The Northern Ontario Agriculture Conference is the North’s premier ag conference, with over 150 attendees. NOFIA/Supplied

On Saturday, Feb. 7 , the conference also offers a tradeshow featuring businesses and organizations serving northern agriculture.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness (OMAFA), is showcasing an “innovation alley” where new and returning tech companies will deliver programming about tech like robotics and automation.

The conference began in 2019, going digital during the pandemic in 2021 and 2022. This year marks the seventh year the conference will be held, after a hiatus in 2025 for NOFIA to pause and refocus their strategic plan.

In years to come, Seed hopes the conference will continue to build community by bringing participants together into one room where they can share knowledge and learn about new research relevant to Northern Ontario.

“I hope we continue to have a great turnout and to be a place where people come together to network and build stronger connections for Northern Ontario agriculture.”

Registration closes on Jan. 24.