Seeding Innovation: Empowering Ontario’s Agri-Food Sector with Digital Twin Technology

From field to fork, Ontario’s agrifood sector is undergoing a tech-driven transformation. As emerging tools revolutionize how we grow, manage and sustain our food systems, this poses an opportunity for farms, food and beverage producers and processing facilities to optimize operations and improve efficiencies. That’s why the Ontario Chamber of Commerce — together with the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, Food and Beverage Ontario, and Food Processing Skills Canada — is offering an innovative training program designed to upskill small agri-food businesses with the latest digital twin technology.

Digital twins — virtual replicas of physical systems — are transforming how businesses plan, operate and optimize. Through this program, participants gain hands-on experience using Unity’s real-time 3D platform, learning to simulate workflows, test “what-if” scenarios and visualize operations in ways that boost productivity and reduce waste.

These are hands-on experiences are already making a difference. Hear directly from small businesses across Ontario who have already started on their digital twin journey:

“I can see this technology being incredibly valuable for Haven Greens, both immediately and long-term. It’s a hands-on way to visualize workflows, optimize layouts, and ensure smooth operations. Looking further ahead, I believe a full digital twin of the greenhouse could become an essential tool for managing lettuce growth and production. We could simulate variables like light intensity, nutrient concentration, ventilation strategies, and even unpredictable factors like pest infestations. Running these simulations in a digital environment would allow us to test “what-if” scenarios safely and efficiently, ultimately supporting healthier crops and more consistent yields.” — Carol L from Haven Greens

“As our farm is a pretty dynamic system with a lot of inputs, it’s obvious that running the operation with a small crew can be a handful, so having reliable, up-to-date information at the farmer’s fingertips is essential. Whether it is a 3D representation like some of the examples we’ve seen or a simple dashboard that allows farmers and hands to see status and diagnose issues remotely, a reliable digital twin would allow a small operation like ours or a single farmer to allocate limited resources to maximize efficiency. I’m very excited about the possibilities of the digital twin concept and grateful for the chance to learn more about the tech, ways to apply it to our situation here at Meeting Place, and to gain enough familiarity to start talking to people about how it could be used for them.” — Ben H. from Meeting Place Organic.

“The Seeding Digital Skills training program has been an incredibly valuable opportunity. Having access to a premier platform like Unity, paired with a wealth of structured resources, is not something most businesses would ever get without significant cost. The fact that it’s being offered at no charge is a major benefit, and I see real value in what it makes possible. What stood out to me most was the self-directed study component. Unity provides a huge library of step-by-step courses (some easily 40+ hours long) with clear checkpoints and practical exercises. The program really gives you what you put into it: the more time and effort you commit, the more you gain. I found dedicating the recommended 10 hours per week to be extremely rewarding, as it gave me practical ways to apply what I was learning rather than just seeing things from a high-level perspective. It also made the instructor-led sessions much more productive — I felt well-prepared going into those three-hour classes, which made it easier to follow along and get the most out of them. I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone in agriculture, food and beverage, or related industries who is curious about digital twin technology, or about Unity as a whole. The resources are high-quality, accessible, and structured in a way that makes the learning process both approachable and impactful — provided participants are ready to put in the effort.” — Alex M. from Aspire Infusions.

The Seeding Digital Skills program is more than just training; it is a gateway to redefining how agriculture and food and beverage processing can be done. It shows that tech transformation doesn’t have to be intimidating or out of reach. With the right tools and support, even small businesses can lead big changes.

Whether you are a livestock farmer, greenhouse operator or food processor, this program offers a competitive edge and is available at no cost. Participants will receive up to $20,000 CAD in training value, along with a one-year license and access to Unity Hub’s 400+ hours of on-demand training modules. November and December cohorts are open for registration. Sign up today and go beyond your usual: http://occ.ca/seeding-digital-skills-register