A new competition, the AgRobotics Ontario Challenge, has been launched to engage high school students in exploring innovative applications of robotics in agriculture. The focus is on leveraging robotics to enhance farm worker safety, efficiency, and competitiveness.
Participating schools will receive a robotics kit from Studica to develop their ideas. Six schools will be chosen to create prototypes of their concepts, which will be showcased at the Western Fair Association’s London Farm Show in March 2026. Each selected school will also receive $500 to support their design development.
Haggerty Robotics, led by Chuck Baresich, is actively involved in developing robotics for agricultural purposes. One of their notable creations is a solar-powered vehicle capable of autonomously seeding and weeding fields, eliminating the need for human intervention.
The contest, organized in partnership with Innovation Farms Ontario, aims to merge students’ interest in technology with the crucial need to improve agricultural productivity. Baresich emphasized the significant global investments in agricultural technology advancements.
Enhancing technologies for harvesting and pest management on farms is a critical aspect addressed by robotics solutions, according to Baresich. These innovations enable continuous operation without constant human monitoring, allowing farmers to reallocate their workforce efficiently.
While controlled environments like greenhouses have seen the integration of robotics, the field of farm robots still offers substantial opportunities for growth, especially in crops like apples and strawberries, as highlighted by Baresich.
The competition encourages students to propose practical agricultural solutions. Baresich hopes that the fresh perspectives brought by young minds will generate novel approaches to farm challenges.
The FarmDroid, an autonomous solar-powered seeder and weeder, was featured at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show near Woodstock, Ont. Chuck Baresich, the founder and president of Haggerty AgRobotics, explained what FarmDroid does and how it can improve farming operations.
Encouraging a fresh perspective on agricultural challenges, Baresich highlighted the importance of exploring alternative approaches to traditional farming methods.
Bridget Mahon, the agribusiness manager at Western Fair Association, expressed optimism that the competition would inspire students to utilize their skills to address agricultural issues creatively.
Submission deadline for the contest is late November, with the selection of the six finalist schools scheduled for early December. More details and the submission portal can be accessed <a href="https://www.innovationfarmson.ca