Manitobans are getting ready to head to the polls, as election day is just under two weeks away. While the province's political parties are campaigning to gain taxpayers' support, agriculture is doing some campaigning of its own, with Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) advocating for the future Manitoba government to pay attention to the $10 billion industry.

Specifically, KAP wants the government to invest in agricultural research and innovation.

"Research and innovation allow the agriculture community — and really any type of industry — to move forward. If you do not have that, you're always sort of stuck on that perpetual wheel," says KAP president Dan Mazier at their pre-election event Wednesday morning in Winnipeg.

"In Manitoba, the government always talks about (how) we're spending more in innovation," he says, "(but) what we saw in reality was the province ended up cutting back about 50 per cent, or $10 million, in (agricultural) research and innovation. That's a problem."

The event on Wednesday was held in Winnipeg's Innovation Alley, not far from the former Winnipeg Grain Exchange. In addition to drawing attention to concerns around provincial research, the event highlighted innovation in Manitoba's agriculture sector.

One of the themes which arose at the event was the changing landscape of agriculture.                                    

KAP general manager James Battershill speaks at Wednesday's pre-election event.

"Technological advancements are going to change agriculture, not only in Manitoba but across Canada and across the world as we know it," says KAP general manager James Battershill in his speech at the event. "If we work together, really all of Manitoba is poised to benefit from this change... If we want to realize our potential as a province, we really do truly need a vision from our provincial leaders."

Futurpreneur's Jennifer Lusby also spoke at the meeting, bring a perspective on encouraging entrepreneurship, stressing that Manitoba is a great place for new businesses and ideas to take off, much the way Farmers' Edge has been successful.

Lusby thinks ag innovation, specifically, is critical for Manitoba because we are a farming province. But she says the province needs more transparency and help for young entrepreneurs.

"Regardless of who gets into the government, I feel that no matter what, whoever the party leader is, they have to focus on innovation and that entrepreneurial spirit because if we don't help them, no one's going to," Lusby says. "The more we help (local start-ups) and focus on them and provide them with opportunities to grow... the more it's going to help our own local economy churn."

KAP calls on the future Manitoba government to spend the equivalent of one per cent of Manitoba farm cash receipts on provincial research and innovation. The full election document is available on the KAP website.