In an age where modern farming requires producers to make fast, informed decisions, a new AI-powered assistant is stepping in to fill a gap that’s quietly widened across Canada’s agricultural landscape.

Root, a free generative AI tool developed by Farm Credit Canada (FCC), is designed to offer farmers real-time support by transforming decades of research and field knowledge into actionable insights. Now, FCC is partnering with Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) to make Root even smarter—and more accessible.

“Root is more than a technology solution, it’s part of a broader effort to bring back something Canadian agriculture has lost: accessible, trusted and timely insight,” said Justine Hendricks, FCC president and CEO, in a press release.

The sentiment echoes a growing concern among Canadian farmers: as traditional, community-based advisory networks decline, many producers are left to navigate increasingly complex challenges alone.

“With the decline of local advisory networks [extension services], too many farmers and ranchers have had to rely on fragmented information or go at it alone,” Hendricks said. “By partnering with RDAR, we’re helping producers access the kind of expertise that once came from decades of community-based knowledge sharing — and we’re doing it in real time, at the pace of modern farming with trusted advisors.”

Root was launched earlier this year as a mobile-friendly, bilingual tool with voice-to-text and image recognition capabilities. Since then, it has supported more than 2,900 user conversations and analyzed nearly 400 images submitted by producers—helping with everything from identifying parts to troubleshooting equipment issues.

What sets Root apart is its ease of use. There's no login, no registration, and it doesn’t collect personal information — features that prioritize trust and simplicity for users in the field.

Through their new memorandum of understanding, RDAR and FCC plan to enhance Root’s functionality even further. RDAR will contribute key data sources and support testing to ensure the tool keeps pace with the real-world needs of Canadian producers.

“We are especially keen on incorporating RDAR materials into Root, FCC’s AI / Large Language Model Pilot and making our materials accessible to producers and ranchers,” said Dr. Mark Redmond, CEO of RDAR.

While FCC and RDAR have previously worked in parallel on agricultural innovation, this agreement formalizes their collaboration and sharpens their shared focus on bringing research to life in the hands of farmers.

“We are pleased to formalize our partnership with FCC; in the past, we have worked on initiatives concurrently, but now we will collaborate more closely,” Redmond said. “This alliance aims to foster innovative solutions for the agricultural sector.”

Root’s mission is clear: empower producers with timely, relevant information so they can make better decisions, faster, with fewer risks. And it’s resonating—91% of users say the tool has provided helpful support, FCC says..

As Hendricks explained, “By simplifying decision-making and increasing confidence on the farm, Root helps accelerate productivity, reduce trial-and-error and empower Canadian producers to adopt better practices with less risk, right from their phones.”

Looking ahead, FCC and RDAR envision even more capabilities for Root, including broader support for agrifood and agribusiness operators. But at its core, Root remains rooted in a simple yet powerful goal: bringing trustworthy agricultural advice back into the hands of those who need it most.

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