Join us in conversation with MRU alumni Rudi Schiebel, Founder and CEO of Habitat, and Paul Shumlich, Founder and CEO of Deepwater Farms, to learn about how experiences at MRU have influenced their careers. This presentation will explore emerging technologies employed in aquaponics, and how these technologies are changing approaches to food security and sustainable farming.

Bios:

Rudi Schiebel, CEO and founder of Habitat Life Sciences

As the CEO and founder of Habitat Life Sciences, Rudi Schiebel (he/him) is creating a smart-farming brand that reflects his belief that the relationship between agriculture and the natural environment is a partnership, not an entitlement. Prior to starting Habitat in 2018, Rudi co-founded The Turtle Valley Bison Company, a ranch focused on holistic farming practices. In combination with his experience building sustainable local chain food systems, Rudi’s mission is to create a truly sustainable farming model that pairs today’s technologies with symbiotic farming models like aquaponics. Habitat’s pilot farm in Chase BC is the first facility of its kind to be certified organic under the Canadian Aquaculture Standard, producing organic coho salmon and organic craft cannabis together in Habitat’s proprietary aquaponics process. This process recirculates 99.7% of its water and converts solid waste from the salmon farm into a water-based fertilizer for cannabis plants. 

Paul Shumlich, Founder and CEO of Deepwater farms

Paul Shumlich (he/him) is founder and CEO of Deepwater Farms. Deepwater Farms is an agricultural technology company specializing in controlled environment agriculture farming technology, as well as land-based recirculating aquaculture. 

Deepwater Farms is Alberta’s leading producer of baby greens and sea bass, and supplies grocery stores such as Calgary Co-op, Safeway, Sobeys, and Community Natural Foods as well as over 100 restaurants across the province. They grow more than 100 tonnes of produce and fish per year.

Paul is an alumnus from Mount Royal University, where he completed a degree in General Management with a focus on Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Throughout his university career, he competed in numerous business pitch competitions, winning over $150,000 in funding. In 2019, the Calgary Herald named Paul a Compelling Calgarian, an honour awarded to those making a difference in our city.

Joined by Dr. Brad Mahon, Dean of the Faculty of Continuing Education at MRU

Emerging Technologies Consortium (ETC) is a regular event hosted by The Mount Royal Library in Calgary, Alberta where Mount Royal students, employees, and the general community come together to discuss a common interest in new tech developments to inform teaching, learning, scholarship and student experience. The ETC holds events for those who explore and adopt emerging technologies to come together to generate ideas, foster connections and share knowledge and expertise. Topics of discussion will include virtual and augmented reality, 3D printing, e-sports, machine learning, robotics, wearables, and more.