Canadian agriculture at crossroads of AI
Canadian agriculture is at a critical crossroads, according to Brock University political scientist Charles Conteh.
Conteh argues that artificial intelligence could significantly improve productivity, sustainability and resilience across the sector. AI technologies can enable real-time plant disease detection, precision irrigation and improved ecosystem monitoring, but their widespread adoption requires stronger collaboration among farmers, researchers, industry leaders and governments.
He warns that Canada is falling behind in areas such as AI governance, data stewardship, privacy and interoperability, limiting the technology’s effective use on farms. In a recent post for the university, Conteh recommended measures including regional innovation hubs, farmer training programs, research partnerships and regional innovation strategies to accelerate AI adoption.
With coordinated public leadership and responsible AI policies, Canada can transform its agricultural sector and become a global leader in agri-food innovation, he says.
