Canadian farmers are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to enhance productivity and manage risks in a challenging agricultural environment. Innovations such as sensor-equipped storage bins and AI-powered irrigation systems are being tested on farms in Manitoba as part of efforts to improve crop management and reduce losses.
Potato farmer Sheldon Wiebe, whose 10,000-acre farm near MacGregor, Manitoba, supplies potatoes to the Simplot Co. processing plant, has been trialing sensors developed by Calgary-based Cellar Insights. These devices monitor temperature and humidity inside climate-controlled storage bins, using AI to detect early signs of spoilage such as mold spores. This data is communicated directly to Wiebe’s smartphone, enabling timely intervention before crop losses occur. The system also adapts to the region’s fluctuating seasonal climate by continuously refining its predictive models.
Wiebe’s farm is one of two innovation farms supported by the Winnipeg-based Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative (EMILI), a nonprofit organization that facilitates the use of emerging agri-tech products in Canada. EMILI also assists farmers in testing an Israeli-founded AI irrigation system, Autonomous Pivot, which employs ground-penetrating radar to measure soil moisture and identify potential disease or insect issues. The technology aims to optimize watering schedules and prevent crop stress, reducing the need for manual soil moisture sampling.
Across the country, similar technologies—ranging from predictive weed control to smart field management—are gaining traction among larger farming operations, particularly in grain, oilseed, dairy, and controlled-environment production. However, many producers face barriers to adoption, including uncertainty about returns on investment, limited digital literacy, and inadequate rural internet connectivity.
Industry analysts note a decline in investment in Canadian agri-food technology companies over the past decade. According to RBC researcher Lisa Ashton, deal volumes and values have dropped by nearly 30 percent and 32 percent respectively. Meanwhile, a 2025 report by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute highlights a gap between the excitement around new technologies and the practical concerns of farmers, contributing to slower adoption among smaller producers.
Efforts to close that gap include initiatives like AIVA, a network co-founded by EMILI and Farm Credit Canada (FCC) to enable farmers to trial early-stage agricultural technologies in a real-world environment. FCC also released a report identifying Canadian agriculture as lagging behind other sectors in AI adoption. Mohamad Yaghi, FCC’s vice-president of AgExpert and Innovation Hub, emphasized the potential benefits of increased digitalization, urging greater capital investment in innovation.
Connectivity challenges are being addressed through partnerships such as that between agricultural equipment manufacturer John Deere and SpaceX’s Starlink network. Their JDLink Boost product uses satellite internet to provide reliable high-speed access on farm equipment, enabling smoother operation of smart technologies even in remote areas.
Farmers involved in testing new digital tools emphasize the importance of data collection and management. Rick Rutherford, who manages another EMILI innovation farm near Grosse Isle, Manitoba, has been collecting detailed crop data for over a decade. His operation recently trialed Geco, a predictive weed control system that integrates AI, satellite imagery, and crop models to generate precise herbicide and seeding prescriptions. This approach allows more targeted chemical use and improved environmental stewardship.
While no single technology offers a comprehensive solution, farmers say AI and data-driven tools provide valuable additions to their management toolkit. The increasing demand for food traceability also enhances the value of detailed crop data, enabling producers to demonstrate input histories and production origins to consumers.
Industry advisors acknowledge that many farmers are still navigating how to integrate AI into daily operations. Taylor Phillips, chief technology officer at Saskatoon-based Maverick Ag, helps producers develop AI literacy and consolidate dispersed farm data into accessible formats. One of his clients, Taylor Wallace, who farms near Unity, Saskatchewan, has begun incorporating AI-assisted decision-making with the expectation that improved data insights will enable more proactive management.
As Canadian agriculture faces intensifying global competition and tighter margins, the adoption of AI and digital tools represents an evolving opportunity to improve efficiency, sustainability, and economic resilience across the sector.