Hon. Robert Black: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak about the digitization of agriculture.

We know that technology is playing an ever-growing role in our world. However, for many years, agriculture has remained stuck in the past, largely due to connectivity issues.

I recently met with representatives from Telus Agriculture, a new business unit within Telus looking to innovate and explore technological opportunities to better support rural communities, digitize agricultural data and create a better flow of information across our food system.

It is clear that digital technologies — from the most basic internet connections to the most advanced artificial intelligence — are changing agriculture and the food system. Examples of this can be seen at every step of the food supply chain, from laying of seed to getting the final product on retail shelves.

As a nation, we must embrace the potential that technology holds to enhance and strengthen one of our oldest and most important sectors. The world will face many challenges in the future to maintain food security as the population continues to grow. Canada has a better chance of continuing to feed families around this world if we support a digital transformation of agriculture that is enabled by connectivity.

Honourable colleagues, the future of farming is smarter, more innovative and more connected. But that won’t come unless the government steps up to support agricultural and rural communities in getting reliable internet access. If we are to see our agricultural sector continue to be a global leader, we need shovels in the ground now to get our rural, remote and northern communities connected.

Thank you.

[Translation]