Ag in Motion attracts international firms to Sask.

Business drawn to Ag in Motion near Langham this week could mean long-term economic benefits for Saskatoon.

The Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) is continuing a program to recruit international companies that could advance the business of farming in Saskatchewan.

The HARVEST program, which began in 2017, aims to arrange travel and networking opportunities for the innovative firms so they can attend Ag in Motion — located 15 minutes west of Saskatoon.

SREDA president Alex Fallon said a total of 27 companies applied for the opportunity in 2017, and four were brought to the outdoor farming show.

One of those firms, a livestock disease detection company from the United Kingdom, has since established a Canadian subsidiary in Saskatoon.

“They’re very keen to come here,” Fallon said. “They see us as a leading international agricultural jurisdiction.”

The 2018 winners of the HARVEST program were chosen from applicants ranging across the U.S., South America, Europe and Asia. They are:

• NRGene Ltd., an Israel-based plant genomics company
• Iotag Pty Ltd. of Finley, Australia, developer of a livestock GPS tracking system
• Aker Technologies Inc. from Illinois, which has created a high-tech pest and pathogen detection tool
• Holganix LLC of Pennsylvania, maker of 100 per cent natural soil nutrition products for turf and agricultural uses

The companies will have booths set up at Ag in Motion between July 17-19.

–With files from 650 CKOM’s Brent Bosker.