Key Takeaways
- Bayer, Zone AgTech, and Axceta sign a memorandum of understanding to form a precision agriculture consortium in Quebec.
- The initiative will accelerate the adoption of digital and IoT technologies in greenhouse and horticultural production.
- Bayer’s HortiView platform will serve as the foundation for developing integrated digital tools for producers.
- Zone AgTech will mobilize stakeholders, while Axceta contributes technological expertise in embedded software and cloud infrastructure.
- The collaboration aims to position Quebec as a hub for agtech innovation in Canada.
A Strategic Initiative for Digital Agriculture in Canada By Zone AgTech
Zone AgTech has joined forces with Bayer’s Crop Science division and Montreal-based Axceta to create a new consortium dedicated to advancing precision agriculture and greenhouse technologies in Quebec and across Canada. The initiative focuses on accelerating the development and adoption of Internet of Things (IoT)-based tools and smart agriculture technologies.
The collaboration is formalized through a memorandum of understanding and brings together expertise in agtech innovation, digital infrastructure, and industry-specific technology development.
Bayer’s HortiView Platform at the Core
The new consortium will be built around Bayer’s HortiView platform, a digital crop management solution currently in beta. The platform includes a range of pre-harvest tools provided by third-party developers, designed to assist with seasonal planning, fertigation, irrigation, and disease control.
According to Bayer, HortiView aims to simplify primary data collection and provide producers with modular agronomic services to improve productivity and resource efficiency. Chris Pienaar, Global Head of Digital Solutions for Fruit & Vegetables at Bayer, emphasized that the partnership is an opportunity to enhance platform functionality while supporting the Canadian horticulture sector.
Zone AgTech and Axceta’s Roles
Zone AgTech, representing over 250 agtech stakeholders, will assess the financial feasibility of the initiative and help secure co-investment from public and private partners. The organization will also contribute its ecosystem-building expertise to attract leading startups and research institutions.
“This initiative consolidates Quebec’s status as a key innovation hub for agriculture,” said Marilou Cyr, Executive Director of Zone AgTech.
Axceta, an established player in IoT and digital agriculture, will act as the consortium’s technical partner. CEO Sherif Zaroubi highlighted that the project aligns with the company’s mission to provide tools that address labor shortages in agriculture while boosting regional innovation.
Consortium Goals and Long-Term Vision
The memorandum of understanding outlines several strategic goals:
- Promote the adoption of digital and IoT technologies in agriculture.
- Establish a well-funded consortium to drive investment and cross-sector collaboration.
- Support sustainable and economically resilient horticultural production through data-driven decision-making.
The consortium will include stakeholders from across the value chain, such as academic institutions, private investors, producer associations, and retail partners. By coordinating these efforts, Zone AgTech and its partners aim to build a solid foundation for agtech innovation in Canada.
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