Canadian agriculture embraces technology:
Much has changed in the agricultural sector, as illustrated by the experience of Quinton Gibson, a seventh-generation apple grower at Gibson Farms in Newcastle, Ontario. The farm, located an hour east of Toronto, covers 121,406 hectares. Reflecting on the past, Gibson notes a shift from reliance on experience and intuition to data-driven decision-making in agricultural practices. Modern techniques such as soil sampling and leaf sap analysis tests are now used to refine fertilizer and nutrient applications. Additionally, Gibson Farms uses an AI-powered camera system developed by Toronto-based Vivid Machines Inc. that helps monitor plant health and optimize fruit production through targeted thinning.
Vivid Machines, co-founded by Jenny Lemieux, represents a segment of Canadian agricultural technology (agtech) innovators aimed at improving yield, reducing costs and reducing emissions. The Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph highlights the potential of these technologies to unlock significant economic opportunities for Canada, filling job vacancies and contributing to emissions reduction targets. Lemieux emphasizes the importance of efficiency and food security, facilitated by the integration of technology in agriculture. Collaboration between ag tech companies and farmers is crucial for data collection and model development, with Canadian farmers playing a key role in the evolution of these technologies.
Government support in the form of grants from organizations such as the National Research Council and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is strengthening the agricultural technology sector. Canada’s competitive agricultural and technology sectors provide fertile ground for innovation.
The adoption of technologies in agriculture, including AI, drone technology and automated systems, is advancing rapidly, providing promising prospects for addressing the challenges of food production, sustainability and agricultural management across Canada.
Source: The Globe and Mail
