Protein Industries Canada has announced a $4.5 million partnership
with Ground Truth Agriculture, Parametrics.Ag, Cas-Grain Farms and
C-Merak Innovations to develop new technologies that predict and
assess the quality of protein crops in the field during the growing
season and harvest. Funded under Protein Industries Canada’s
artificial intelligence stream of funding, the project is part of
the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, through which
the Government of Canada is investing in efforts to drive the
adoption of artificial intelligence across Canada's economy and
society.
“The government is pleased to support the Protein Industries
Cluster as it works with partners on leveraging AI to strengthen
opportunities in one of Canada’s key sectors,” says the Honourable
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and
Industry. “This project will help to position Canada as a global
supplier of high-quality crops and food ingredients, increase its
competitiveness and support strong supply chains.”
Protein Industries Canada is investing $2 million into the
project, with Ground Truth Agriculture, Parametrics.Ag, Cas-Grain
Farms and C-Merak Innovations investing the remainder.
“A high-quality plant-based food product starts with a
high-quality crop. The ability to assess the quality of protein
crops throughout the growing season helps Canada’s farmers,
ingredient manufacturers and food processors increase the quality
and value of Canada’s crops, creating increased demand for Canadian
products,” Protein Industries Canada CEO Bill Greuel said. “This
new artificial intelligence technology is a perfect example of the
type of innovation our sector needs to help it reach its $25
billion potential.”
Ground Truth Agriculture, Parametrics.Ag, Cas-Grain Farms and
C-Merak Innovations are combining their expertise in the areas of
software development, ingredient processing and agronomics to
design an in-season protein prediction model and on-combine grain
grading and quality system that can be used to assess crop quality
in real time during the growing season and harvest.
“Being able to accurately predict important crop yield and
quality specifications during the growing season before crops are
harvested has been a highly demanded data variable by producers and
industry stakeholders for years, but non-localized data and rigid
processes haven’t met the need in order to make valuable actions so
far,” said Damon Johnson, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer
of Parametrics.Ag. “Our discipline in only using the most accurate,
robust and local datasets, combined with sophisticated internally
developed machine learning processes, creates an intuitive
environment to develop new AI methods that support the protein
industry participants’ food safety and security needs in the
future.”
“Since the beginning of conventional farming, farmers have had
to rely on a subjective, blanket approach to grain grading that
does not provide them with a complete and actionable picture of
their quality,” Ground Truth Agriculture Founder and CEO Kyle Folk
said. “Ground Truth Ag’s precision-location, automated grain
grading technology uses cutting-edge scientific advancements in
machine learning to make grain grading objective and consistent
throughout the entire supply chain — starting on the farm. What we
are building will change agriculture on a global scale.”
In-field validation of grain quality will provide farmers with
an earlier indication of their crop’s yield, protein content and
overall quality to improve their decision making and sale
opportunities.
"Farming will always be both an art and a science. More and
more, real-time data collection offers valuable insights to guide
decision-making. We are excited to work with our project partners
to develop AI-driven solutions that will improve in-season
prediction of crop quality and attributes to manage inputs and
create higher returns through market opportunities," said Cas-Grain
Farms CEO Vince Casavant.
This information will also provide buyers like ingredient
manufacturers with a more consistent supply of feedstock for
uniform ingredient formulations leading to improved food and
beverage products on grocery store shelves.
"As a food ingredient manufacturer, we need large predictable
and consistent quantities of feedstock. With greater access to
detailed feedstock insights provided by this project, we can
optimize processing methods to increase protein quality and
functionality. In a growing world that demands more protein,
support from Protein Industries Canada for the project will help us
apply AI innovation and bring enhanced Canadian plant-protein
solutions to global consumers," said C-Merak Innovations CEO Brett
Casavant.
Protein Industries Canada is one of Canada’s five Global
Innovation Clusters. Protein Industries Canada and our members are
working to embrace the $25 billion opportunity presented by
Canada’s ingredient manufacturing, food processing and bio-product
sector. Projects such as these add value to, and create new markets
for, Canadian crops, generating local jobs and supporting new
economic development in locations across Canada. More information
can be found at www.theroadto25billion.ca.
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About Ground Truth Agriculture
Using different hardware applications powered by their
cutting-edge artificial intelligence, Ground Truth Agriculture’s
automated grain grading system offers standardized and repeatable
results no matter where the grain is in the supply chain — in
field, on farm, in facility, in transit, at destination and
anywhere in between. Their technology will mean an agriculture
supply chain that is backed by real time, accurate and consistent
grading results with fast and comprehensive views of quality
factors to drive profitability and productivity industry wide. For
more information, please visit groundtruth.ag.
About Parametrics.Ag
Powered by Global Ag Risk Solutions and founded by AgTech and Ag
Finance industry leaders, Parametrics.Ag is at the forefront of
revolutionizing agriculture risk management, risk underwriting and
supply-chain transparency through innovative technology, data
science and software engineering to specialize in the design and
development of cutting-edge parametric weather-index insurance
products and crop-specific yield and crop quality predictive
analytics.
About Cas-Grain Farms
Cas-Grain is a fourth-generation family-owned and operated farm
spanning more than 20,000 acres. They embrace the art of
traditional know-how with the science of modern agriculture
practices to nurture safe life-giving crops while protecting
natural resources. Their entrepreneurial spirit drives them to grow
and expand into crops necessary for the health and wellbeing of our
growing world.
About C-Merak Innovations
C-Merak is a food ingredient manufacturer located in
Saskatchewan, Canada. From field to final ingredient, C-Merak
offers a closed loop traceable value chain for quality ingredients
you can trust. Harnessing the potential of faba beans and oats,
they are evolving the landscape of dry milled sustainable
plant-based food. C-Merak’s diverse ingredient lineup features the
innovative FABAFuel Protein 65% Concentrate, FABAFuel Flour, along
with starch and fiber options, and the versatile Prairie OATFuel
ingredients including groats, flour, rolled flakes, quick flakes,
steel cuts, and fibre.
Miranda Burski
Protein Industries Canada
306-581-1340
miranda@proteinsupercluster.ca