Protein Industries Canada invests in AI technology to boost on-farm productivity and bring new solutions to farmers

Western Canadian partnerships will advance competitiveness across the food system and accelerate adoption of made-in-Canada AI tools

Regina, SK, Sept. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Protein Industries Canada is investing in two new artificial intelligence (AI) projects to help Canadian farmers and the value-added agriculture sector improve on-farm productivity with new tools, supporting a stronger, more sustainable and competitive food system.

Together, the projects represent a total investment of $4.9 million, including up to $2.2 million from Protein Industries Canada, and will help growers act earlier on disease risk, and improve safety and accuracy in grain storage.

“Canadian farmers are increasingly adopting cutting-edge technologies to strengthen productivity, sustainability and global competitiveness,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. “Through Protein Industries Canada, one of Canada’s global innovation clusters, we are investing in made-in-Canada AI solutions to help producers protect their yields, optimize inventory management and make informed business decisions. By reducing risk and enhancing efficiency, this initiative is helping build a stronger, more resilient future for Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.”

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“These projects bring together two things Canada does exceptionally well—agriculture and innovation—to give farmers practical new tools that can lower costs, improve safety and increase productivity,” said the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development. “By backing homegrown innovation and getting it into the hands of farmers, we’re strengthening agriculture here in Saskatchewan and across the country.”

Protein Industries Canada helps move Canadian innovation from ideas to real-world use, bringing companies, researchers and producers together to turn promising technology into practical solutions. These investments support Canada’s priority to accelerate responsible AI adoption by scaling made-in-Canada tools that solve day-to-day challenges on farms and across the value chain.

“AI is becoming a foundational tool for the future of agriculture, and Canada has an opportunity to lead by turning world-class innovation into solutions that work on farms and in the field, and further up the value-chain,” CEO of Protein Industries Canada Tyler Groeneveld said. “These projects show how applied AI can help producers manage risk, improve safety, and make better decisions with real-time data—strengthening Canada’s position as a leader in innovation, while growing the value of our agriculture and food production sector.”

The first project, led by TerraVision360—the new public-facing brand of Ukko Agro—in partnership with Metos Canada and Rocky Mountain Equipment, will develop an AI-powered tool to help growers better predict and manage the risk of Ascochyta blight.