Protein Industries Canada Invests $4.9M in AI Technologies to Boost On-Farm Productivity

Protein Industries Canada has announced a $4.9 million co-investment into two groundbreaking artificial intelligence projects. The funding includes up to $2.2 million directly from the innovation cluster, part of Canada’s broader effort under the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy to accelerate responsible AI adoption across key economic sectors.

The initiative aims to address operational challenges on Canadian farms, improve worker safety, and optimize food production efficiency.

Project Breakdowns

  • AI-Powered Disease Risk Prediction
  • Partners: TerraVision360 (formerly Ukko Agro), Metos Canada, and Rocky Mountain Equipment.
  • Objective: Developing predictive AI algorithms to help pulse crop growers identify and manage Ascochyta blight risks early.
  • Impact: Eliminates guesswork for farmers by delivering actionable data on when and where to spray, maximizing yield return and reducing unnecessary chemical use.
  • Drone & LiDAR 3D Inventory Scanning
  • Partners: Super GeoAI Technology Inc. and Southview Farms.
  • Objective: Building an autonomous drone system integrated with LiDAR 3D scanning and digital twin modeling to calculate grain volume inside storage bins.
  • Impact: Replaces dangerous, manual climbing on grain bins with fast, automated scanning, giving producers accurate real-time inventory metrics while enhancing farm safety.

Strategic Objectives

  • Value-Chain Efficiency: Integrating actionable AI models to streamline on-farm decisions, reduce waste, and build supply-chain resilience.
  • The Road to $25 Billion: Supports Protein Industries Canada's national vision to grow the country's plant-based food and ingredient sector into a $25 billion industry.
  • Global Leadership: Position Canadian agriculture as a tech-driven market leader in sustainable and precision-focused farming practices.