In Coleville, Sask., farmer Dean Roberts observed a large grey drone flying over his 4,000-hectare farm, which grows canola, wheat, barley, and lentils. The drone, a DJI T100, has a 100-litre tank for spraying pesticides, a practice approved by the federal government in June. Roberts highlighted the advantages of using such technology, especially in cases where traditional ground rigs face challenges due to wet conditions.
Roberts emphasized the continuous technological advancements in farming, noting that Prairie farmers like him have been evolving to enhance crop yields for generations. However, he expressed concern that Canada lags behind countries like the U.S., China, Brazil, Japan, and Australia in adopting agricultural technologies like drone spraying due to regulatory delays.
Experts identified red tape, infrastructure limitations, and labor shortages as factors hindering Canada’s food export growth compared to other nations. Evan Fraser, from the University of Guelph, highlighted a decline in Canada’s global food export ranking and emphasized the need for policy improvements to support farmers in adopting new technologies efficiently.
Roberts further outlined challenges in transporting crops to global markets, particularly relying on railways for exports. He and Evan Shout from Maverick Ag in Saskatoon also discussed infrastructure issues and labor shortages in the agriculture sector, emphasizing the need for skilled workers to operate increasingly complex farming equipment.
Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald assured that the government is addressing barriers hindering farmers and promoting agri-food exports by investing in critical infrastructure projects. The national food security strategy aims to enhance Canada’s domestic food production while reducing costs for Canadians, but also emphasizes the importance of boosting export capacity.
Professor Jennifer Clapp suggested a shift towards sustainable agriculture practices to position Canada as a global agricultural leader. Fraser highlighted the potential for Canada to increase its agricultural output due to climate change, positioning the country as a significant food producer in the future.
Roberts expressed confidence in Canada’s ability to contribute significantly to global food production, given its vast arable land and favorable climate for farming. He believed that with the right strategies, Canada could play a substantial role in feeding the world.
