Sustainable crop management
Canada: driving innovation in sustainable crop management
Now more than ever, consumers want to know where their food comes from and if it was produced in a sustainable manner.
Did you know? Plant science technologies add $9.8 billion a year to Canada’s economy by helping increase farmers’ harvests and improving crop quality.
4R Nutrient Stewardship, a Canadian innovation, is recognized by the UN Global Compact and Food and Agriculture Organization
In response to consumer demands, global brands are changing their supply chains to be more sustainable. Canada’s prairie farmers have met these requirements by adopting conservation tillage, no-till and reduced summerfallow practices at high rates, generating substantial improvements in soil quality and cutting large volumes of carbon.Footnote 1
At the same time, Canadian technology firms have developed predictive analytic tools that use satellite and drone imagery, in-field sensors, close-proximity cameras, artificial intelligence, machine learning and cloud computing to detect disease, frost and pest risk and to more precisely irrigate and apply fertilizers and pesticides to crops. These innovations are globally applicable and ready for broad scale use. Learn how the Canadian companies below can help you to sustainably increase your country’s food production and prepare for the growing demand for sustainable food.
Innovation and demonstration
Fertilizer Canada - Maximizing profitability and sustainability with 4R Nutrient Stewardship
The 4Rs are a site specific, science-based approach to fertilizer management that involves using the right source of fertilizer at the right rate, right time and right place®. The 4Rs optimize plant nutrient uptake, maximize yield and increase profitability while also minimizing fertilizer runoff, leaching and nitrous oxide emissions. Fertilizer Canada and the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada recently made a joint commitment to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability using 4R climate smart methods on 80,000 smallholder farms in Ghana, Ethiopia and Senegal. The 4Rs have been recognized as a sustainable practice by Canadian federal and provincial governments, the UN Global Compact, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the International Joint Commission. www.4rsolution.org | www.fertilizercanada.ca
The Nitrous Oxide Emissions Reduction Protocol is a Canadian carbon offset protocol that estimates nitrous oxide emissions reduction associated with 4R Nutrient Stewardship. The protocol follows international standards and was originally approved for use within Alberta’s carbon offset market. Today, the protocol is being built into international carbon quantification tools in Canada and around the world.
Canadian successes around the world
Project delivery and reporting
ALUS Canada - Farmers and ranchers line up to implement environmental conservation practices
Through ALUS’s New Acre™ Project, corporations can invest in environmental conservation practices on farms and ranches. New Acre™ sponsors help farmers and ranchers look after their land, and in return, they receive annual reporting on the sustainability metrics that matter most to them. In 2018, the program produced or enhanced over 22,095 acres of land, including 18,749 acres of wetlands, 16,613 acres of pollinator habitat and 4,106 acres of reforested land. The program has been so successful there is now a waitlist of farmers and ranchers wishing to participate. The model can be replicated in other regions of the world. www.alus.ca
Precision agriculture
Motorleaf - Artificial intelligence technology minimizes loss, increases profitability and improves sustainability in commercial greenhouses
Situated within a global hub of innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), Motorleaf is a Montréal-based AI company whose primary innovation is AI-powered yield prediction that enables growers to know the quantity of their future harvests weeks in advance with unprecedented accuracy. Combining plant science with data science, Motorleaf leverages AI and machine learning to support data-driven decision making. Since the company was founded in 2016, greenhouses worldwide have benefited from actionable insights that growers use to optimize resources, reduce costs, minimize waste and enjoy predictable growth. Motorleaf’s technology has been applied in the United States, Europe and Canada and is ready to be used globally. www.motorleaf.com
Canadian firms offering sustainable cropping solutions:
Traceability
FARM-TRACE Technologies Inc.
TrustBIX Inc.
Decisive Farming
Cowater International
Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd.
Viresco Solutions Inc.
Precision agriculture
Decisive Farming
MotorLeaf
Fertilizer Canada
Sultech Global Innovation Corp.
Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd.
Stream Technologies Inc.
Livestock Water Recycling
Flex Alert Company Ltd.
Innovative fertilizer products
Sultech Global Innovation Corp.
Lucent BioSciences Inc.
Irrigation and sustainable water management
Integrated Sustainability
Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd.
Cowater International
Project development and delivery
ALUS Canada
Carbon Credit Solutions Inc.
Cowater International
ESSA Technologies Ltd.
Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd.
Viresco Solutions Inc.
Taking Root
NatureBank
Fertilizer Canada
Brinkman & Associates Reforestation Ltd.
Greenhouse gas quantification and verification
Brightspot Climate
NatureBank
Carbon Credit Solutions Inc.
Viresco Solutions Inc.
Taking Root
Brinkman & Associates Reforestation Ltd.
Applied research
Olds College
ALUS Canada
University of Alberta
Lakeland College
MotorLeaf
Viresco Solutions Inc.
Brinkman & Associates Reforestation Ltd.
Connect with us
The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service is a key resource for anyone interested in doing business with Canada. Our global network of trade offices and dedicated officers are available to connect you with Canadian companies and research organizations. For more information, please contact a trade commissioner in your market.
www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca | TCSclimatefinance@international.gc.ca
