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Join us in transforming agriculture. Discover the programs we offer and take the leap towards a greener future. Whether you’re looking to engage, learn, or invest, your journey starts here.
What is Agriventures?
Agriventures is a STEM Minds and Boreal Farms initiative that merges education, agriculture and innovation. We aim to support sustainable practices while emphasizing the importance of technology in farming methods. Through collaboration and creativity, we are ready to transform the agricultural landscape.
Why Choose Agriventures?
Agriventures stands out by focusing on empowerment through education and innovativon. We provide tools and knowledge to empower farmers and engage young minds. Our mission is to create a platform where technology and agriculture meet, enhancing productivity and promoting eco-friendly practices for a better future.
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Explore Our Key Focus Areas
Workshops
Field Innovation
Youth Programs
Community Outreach
Agri Stories
Learn about amazing Agri Stories right in our backyard!
Proudly Canadian.
Agriventures Media is a Canadian-based initiative focused on showcasing the intersection of agriculture, technology, and innovation through storytelling and educational content. As a collaboration between STEM Minds and Boreal Farms, the platform aims to inspire and educate diverse audiences—ranging from youth to farmers and entrepreneurs—by highlighting advancements in agri-tech and sustainable farming practices.
Through media such as video series, workshops, and community-driven programming, Agriventures Media translates complex agricultural innovations—like precision farming, robotics, and sustainable food systems—into accessible, engaging stories. Its mission is to empower individuals with knowledge and tools, foster collaboration, and promote environmentally responsible agriculture for the future.
Check out our video stories!
This video introduces Agriventures Media as a storytelling platform focused on agriculture, innovation, and community impact. It highlights how modern farming is evolving through technology and emphasizes the importance of connecting people—especially youth—to agriculture.
Key themes include:
- The shift toward agri-tech and innovation in farming
- Sharing real stories of farmers and changemakers
- Making agriculture more accessible, engaging, and inspiring
- Encouraging the next generation to explore careers in food systems
Overall, the video positions Agriventures Media as a bridge between traditional agriculture and future-focused innovation, using media to educate and inspire.
Agri Venturtes - Season 1
Etobigrow Story:
This video highlights the human side of agriculture, focusing on a farmer or innovator’s journey and how they are adapting to modern challenges in farming.
Key Takeaways:
- Agriculture is evolving – The video shows how traditional farming is being combined with new technologies and innovative practices to improve efficiency and sustainability.
- Personal storytelling – It centers on an individual’s story, emphasizing their passion, challenges, and motivation to pursue farming or agri-innovation.
- Community and impact – There is a strong focus on how agriculture connects to local communities, food systems, and future generations.
- Inspiration for youth and entrepreneurs – The video encourages viewers to see agriculture as a field full of opportunity, creativity, and purpose, not just traditional labour.
Overall Message:
The video reinforces the idea that modern agriculture is a space for innovation, storytelling, and impact, where individuals can combine technology, sustainability, and entrepreneurship to shape the future of food.
Sunny Farms Story
This video continues the Agriventures Media storytelling approach, focusing on how agriculture is being reimagined through innovation, people, and community-driven impact.
Key Takeaways:
- Agriculture as innovation-driven – The video highlights how farming is no longer just traditional labour, but a space where technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship intersect.
- Real stories, real impact – It showcases individuals or initiatives working in agriculture, emphasizing their journeys, challenges, and contributions to the food system.
- Bridging gaps – A strong theme is connecting youth, communities, and industry, helping people see agriculture as relevant and full of opportunity.
- Future of food systems – The video points toward a future where sustainability, innovation, and collaboration are central to feeding communities.
Overall Message:
The video reinforces that agriculture is a dynamic, evolving sector, and through storytelling and media, it can inspire the next generation to engage with food systems, technology, and sustainable practices.
Boreal Farms Story
This video from Agriventures Media focuses on how innovation and entrepreneurship are transforming agriculture into a modern, opportunity-driven industry.
Key Takeaways:
- Agriculture as a business opportunity
The video emphasizes that farming today is not just about growing food—it’s about building scalable, innovative ventures that combine technology, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. - Innovation at the core
It highlights the role of new tools, systems, and creative thinking in solving real-world agricultural challenges, from food production to efficiency and sustainability. - Real people driving change
The story centers on individuals or teams who are actively shaping the future of agriculture, showing their journey, mindset, and willingness to experiment and adapt. - Inspiring the next generation
A strong message is encouraging youth and new entrants to see agriculture as a field full of innovation, creativity, and impact, not just traditional labour.
Overall Message:
The video reinforces that modern agriculture is an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship, where people can create meaningful impact by combining technology, sustainability, and storytelling.
Agri Ventures Season 2 - Coming Soon
Agri Ventures Season 2
Season 2 of Agriventures Media builds on the foundation of storytelling established in the first season, expanding into a deeper exploration of the challenges and opportunities shaping modern agriculture. Through a series of episodes, the season highlights real-world innovations, emerging technologies, and the people driving change across the agri-food sector.
Featuring on-the-ground stories, expert insights, and community perspectives, Season 2 explores key themes such as sustainability, food systems, and the future of farming. Each episode dives into pressing issues within the agricultural landscape—ranging from technological advancements to shifts in policy and production—while showcasing practical solutions and inspiring journeys.
By combining cinematic storytelling with education and real-world impact, Season 2 aims to deepen understanding, spark curiosity, and inspire a new generation of innovators, farmers, and changemakers to engage with the future of food.
Let us start the season with York Region District School Board’s experience with our program to set the stage for impact!
Agri Ventures Season 2
Podcast: Interview with Anu and Brandon
STEM Minds founder Anu Bidani and “agripreneur” Brandan Hebor discuss their shared mission to inspire youth and newcomers to see agri-food and agri-tech as innovative, meaningful career paths that address food insecurity, climate change, and an aging farming population. They connect soil health, plant health, and human health, emphasizing land stewardship, regenerative practices, and the importance of understanding the full agri-food value chain. Drawing parallels between early STEM education and today’s agri-tech gap, they argue that schools don’t need “new content,” but a new lens that links existing math, science, biology, robotics, and technology curricula to agriculture. They highlight hands-on learning at their Living Lab and farm—robots, drones, IoT, AI crop diagnostics—as powerful ways to make agriculture “fun and cool,” while promoting local food systems, community gardens, and small backyard growing as practical responses to food insecurity. They also identify a major opportunity in harnessing the skills of immigrants with agricultural backgrounds, re-framing farming as an entrepreneurial, tech-enabled, high-skill profession, and outline initiatives like “Just an Acre” to prove that regenerative, small-scale production can be both profitable and climate-positive.
Video 1: STEM Minds and Boreal Farms Activities
This video showcases the hands-on activities and collaborative work between STEM Minds and Boreal Farms, highlighting how education, technology, and agriculture come together in a real-world learning environment. Through immersive workshops, field experiences, and interactive programs, participants engage in activities such as planting, greenhouse operations, and exploring agri-tech tools, gaining practical skills in sustainable farming and food production. The video emphasizes experiential learning—connecting students, jobseekers, and community members to the future of agriculture by demonstrating how innovation and STEM can be applied both indoors and outdoors. Overall, it presents the initiative as a dynamic space where learning meets action, preparing participants for emerging opportunities in the agri-food and agri-tech sectors.
Check out our vidoe stories!
Podcast: Interview with Amos about LED Lights and Agronomy
In this interview, Amos Bassi, a senior plant specialist and agronomist with international experience across Europe, Asia, and North America, shares how a lifelong passion for agriculture led him to specialize in sustainable and efficient food production. Growing up in Italy, he chose an agriculture-focused high school and pursued the path of a “doctor agronomist,” working across crop production, science, and technology. Now part of the Philips horticultural lighting division as a sales application specialist / senior plant specialist, he supports growers in greenhouses and vertical farms by translating plant science into practical strategies—optimizing lighting, adapting innovations to local climates and market needs, and helping producers improve yields while managing energy, labor, and other constraints.
Video 2: Research and Development
TOsustain is a research initiative led by the University of Toronto Scarborough that focuses on advancing sustainable urban and peri-urban agriculture to support net-zero food systems. Working with partners, the program aims to improve how urban agriculture systems are managed and expanded, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions while building more resilient and efficient food systems across the Greater Toronto Area and Canada. Through interdisciplinary research and innovation, TOsustain explores practical solutions that connect agriculture, sustainability, and climate action, contributing to long-term environmental and community impact.
Check out our vidoe stories!
Podcast: Interview with PureLife
Brandon interviews Helen Stylos from Pure Life Soil, a regenerative soil company in west Toronto that grew out of a family bait business over 50 years ago. The founders discovered that their byproduct—worm castings—is a highly potent, microbe-rich fertilizer, leading the company to evolve and rebrand as Pure Life Soil in 2021, now run by the third generation. Helen, who has a lifelong passion for soil biology, joined three and a half years ago and describes their large indoor, temperature-controlled facility where millions of earthworms are raised to produce consistent, high-quality castings that help regenerate land, trap carbon, and support healthy ecosystems.
Video 3: Purelife
Pure Life Soil is a Toronto-based company specializing in premium organic soil blends designed to support healthy, sustainable plant growth. Built on the belief that successful growing starts with the soil, the company produces ready-to-use mixes made entirely from organic ingredients—free from synthetics and fillers—to support plants from seed to harvest. Their products, which include potting mixes, garden soil, and living soil blends enriched with natural amendments like worm castings and compost, are developed to promote strong soil biology and long-term plant health. Through a focus on quality, sustainability, and accessibility, Pure Life Soil provides growers, gardeners, and communities with reliable solutions for cultivating thriving plants and resilient growing systems.
Check out our vidoe stories!
Podcast: Interview with Rhonda and James – Toronto Urban Growers
Toronto Urban Growers is a diverse and inclusive network of individuals and organizations committed to scaling up urban agriculture in the city. They serve a network that cultivates relationships, and help new leaders emerge, while developing strategies to expand food production within the city.
Part of their vision is the belief that young people, newcomers and new entrepreneurs should have more economic opportunities in the agri-food system. Many of their projects have embodied this vision.
Video 4: Sustainable farming and soil regeneration at LVO Farms
LVO Farms’ soil regeneration approach focuses on rebuilding soil as a living ecosystem through regenerative agriculture practices. By using methods like cover cropping, crop rotation, composting, and reducing soil disturbance, they improve soil structure, increase organic matter, and support beneficial microorganisms. This leads to healthier, more resilient crops while also enhancing water retention, reducing the need for chemical inputs, and contributing to long-term environmental sustainability
Check out our vidoe stories!
Podcast: Interview with Colleen about Science of Plants and Soil
Colleen Dempster, President and CEO of Rewild Soils Lab in Uxbridge, works at the intersection of ecology, soil science, and education to support a healthier local food system. Her work focuses on “rewilding” both ecosystems and people: she creates biologically complete compost and converts it into liquid amendments like compost tea and extracts, which restore the full soil food web for farms, gardens, cannabis cultivation, and restoration projects. Colleen emphasizes biodiversity, environmental awareness, and low-carbon, ethical practices, such as sourcing clean feedstock and maintaining a small footprint, while also running workshops and presentations to help people understand why caring for soil and the environment matters. The conversation frames her as deeply engaged in both the scientific and human sides of regenerative soil work.
Video 5: Global Medics
GlobalMedic is a Canadian humanitarian organization dedicated to providing rapid and effective disaster relief to communities affected by poverty, conflict, and natural disasters around the world. Founded in 2002 as part of the David McAntony Gibson Foundation, the organization focuses on delivering the right aid to the right people at the right time through innovative and efficient response methods. Its work includes deploying emergency medical units, water purification systems, food and hygiene kits, and shelter support, often led by highly trained volunteer teams of paramedics, firefighters, and other first responders. Operating in over 90 countries and having supported millions of beneficiaries, GlobalMedic combines innovation, volunteerism, and rapid response to create meaningful, life-saving impact during times of crisis.
Check out our vidoe stories!
Podcast: Interview with Jennifer Wright from Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council
This interview with Jennifer Wright from the Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council (CAHRC) about labour and workforce issues in Canada’s agri-food sector. Jennifer explains that CAHRC’s mandate is focused entirely on people in agriculture: they conduct labour market research on current and future supply and demand, perform skills analysis to understand what competencies are needed now and in the future, and support ag and agribusiness employers with HR tools, consulting, and training to improve attraction and retention. She describes CAHRC as a national hub, connecting stakeholders across Canada to coordinate efforts on workforce development. Though the team is small and distributed (with staff in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and plans to grow further), their reach is expanded through partnerships, a board made up of provincial farm organizations and national commodity groups, and leadership of the National Workforce Strategic Plan for agriculture and food and beverage manufacturing. The discussion emphasizes that strong partnerships and coordination are essential to address workforce challenges, especially in the context of an aging workforce and changing population dynamics affecting nearly all sectors in Canada.
Video 6: Roof Top Farming
The Urban Farm at Toronto Metropolitan University is a unique campus-based initiative that transforms rooftop spaces into productive urban agriculture sites, combining food production, research, and community engagement. Operating multiple rooftop farms in the heart of downtown Toronto, the program grows a wide variety of crops using ecological practices while serving as a living lab for sustainable agriculture and innovation. Through workshops, tours, and hands-on programming, the Urban Farm connects students, researchers, and the broader community to food systems, sustainability, and urban farming practices. It also supports Indigenous and Black food sovereignty initiatives and distributes fresh produce through community-focused models, creating both educational and social impact.
Check out our vidoe stories!
Podcast: Interview with Katie about Ag Careers
In our interview with Kate from AgCareers, she highlighted the growing demand for skilled talent across the agriculture and agri-tech sectors, emphasizing that the industry offers diverse and evolving career pathways beyond traditional farming. She noted the importance of building awareness among youth and job seekers about opportunities in areas such as technology, sustainability, and food systems. Kate also stressed the need for hands-on learning, industry partnerships, and skills development programs to help bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring the future workforce is prepared to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing agricultural landscape.
Video 7: York Region Food Network
The York Region Food Network (YRFN) is a community-based charitable organization dedicated to building a food-secure region where everyone has access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food. Through a combination of education, advocacy, and community programming, YRFN works to address the root causes of food insecurity by empowering individuals and strengthening local food systems. Its initiatives include community gardens, affordable fresh food programs, cooking and food skills workshops, and collaborative efforts with local partners to improve food access across the region. By creating inclusive spaces and promoting the right to food, YRFN brings people together around food while supporting long-term, sustainable solutions for healthier communities.
Check out our vidoe stories!
Podcast: Interview with Jess Davidson about Insights in the sector
Video 8: Haven Greens
Haven Greens is a King City, Ontario–based greenhouse operation dedicated to growing fresh, high-quality leafy greens using advanced, sustainable technology. Built on a multi-generational farming legacy, the company produces pesticide-free lettuce year-round in a fully automated, climate-controlled facility designed to ensure consistent quality, freshness, and flavour. By leveraging cutting-edge greenhouse systems and local production, Haven Greens reduces reliance on imported produce while supporting more sustainable and resilient food systems. With a focus on innovation, environmental responsibility, and community impact, Haven Greens is redefining how fresh greens are grown and delivered in Canada.
Testimonials
About Us
Canada is at a pivotal moment in the evolution of its AgriFood sector. With 66% of farmers approaching retirement and 35% preparing to transfer their farms to the next generation, the urgency to build a resilient agricultural workforce has never been clearer. In our work delivering agriculture education and hands-on learning we have consistently encountered a profound gap in agricultural literacy. Whether in classrooms or community centers, most participants arrive with little to no prior understanding of the food system—despite its daily relevance in their lives. Few are aware of how food travels from farm to fork, what career opportunities exist in the AgriFood value chain, or how technological innovation is reshaping modern farming.
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