Darrell Petras, CEO of Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) and Rob Hannam, CEO of biosecurity software company Farm Health Guardian, discuss benefits, risks, and current level of adoption of AI in Canadian food and agriculture sectors
By Tabitha Caswell for Bioenterprise
Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving significant improvements within the food and agriculture sectors in Canada. The implementation of AI can optimize the use of resources and lead to efficiencies across various farming and processing operations.
However, the adoption or uptake of AI solutions in this space is sometimes delayed. As in other sectors, making the leap from analog to digital presents some challenges.
In this Inside Bioenterprise article, we explore the most promising AI technologies, both current and emerging, in Canadian agriculture. We’ll weigh the benefits and risks, highlight some success stories, and then broaden the conversation to discuss policy and regulatory considerations.
Darrell Petras, Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN), joins in the conversation. With expertise in business development and management, he works closely with startups entering the agri-tech ecosystem. Coming from farming roots, he brings a unique understanding of this topic.
Also contributing to the discussion is Rob Hannam, Chief Executive Officer of Farm Health Guardian (FHG), a digital biosecurity software solutions company specializing in disease prevention and outbreak preparedness for livestock and poultry farms. Rob offers an inside perspective via his experience with data and monitoring systems.
Promising Tech in Canadian Ag
In Canada’s efforts to reach net zero and address climate change and food insecurity, the promise of AI is attractive.
AI technologies have already proven their worth in different farming domains. Automation, like that originally used in the DOT autonomous farm equipment platform, is rapidly evolving. Canadian engineer, Norbert Beaujot, designed the technology that has since been acquired by Raven Industries and integrated into its driverless equipment platform.
Precision agriculture companies like Croptimistic Technology Inc. use AI to identify when crops need management intervention, such as irrigation or pest control. This technology allows for faster response times to crop stress, preserving and potentially improving yields.
Darrell predicts drones will play a larger role soon, especially in pesticide application. They can operate with impressive precision, spraying only where needed, and they can work at night when conditions are optimal, reducing negative impacts on beneficial insects.
He says, “I see exciting things coming soon in this space. Because these drones will be able to fly in patterns, targeting only where applications are needed, we’ll save on spraying, save on labour, and save on energy consumption – essentially, that carbon footprint will be reduced. Of course, while the technology is available, drone-based pesticide application will be possible only when the Government of Canada completes its approval process.”
Darrell shines a spotlight on the significant advancements evolving on dairy farms. He says, “Robotic automation provides more consistent and frequent milking. This mimics a more natural behaviour for cows which encourages continuous milk production.”
These examples of innovation are exciting, and we’re only at the beginning of the transition.
Source : Bioenterprises.ca