Providing solutions for farmers by testing new technologies

Increasing Canada’s value-added processing of plant proteins can’t be achieved by one link of the value chain working alone. To thrive, representatives all the way along need access to the proper tools and resources.

The team at Sure Growth Solutions takes this responsibility seriously. Since 2006, they’ve dedicated themselves to helping farmers utilize the proper tools, knowledge and production practices to keep their yields high and their operations successful. Recently, they took this work a step further by signing on to a Protein Industries Canada co-investment project aimed at developing new artificial intelligence spraying technology.

“One of the things that we’re really passionate about and have experience with is taking new technologies and finding out how to create the best fit for the farmer, how to prove and test the value, and then how to tell that story,” Sure Growth Solutions CEO Terry Aberhart said.

Together with Precision.ai, Exceed Grain Marketing, and the Global Institute for Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan, Sure Growth Solutions is developing technology that uses artificial intelligence to detect and spray pests in a field. Due to its ability to reduce crop protection product use by up to 95 per cent, the technology is expected to both increase farmer efficiencies and open new markets for plant proteins.

Sure Growth Solutions’ role occurs largely on the testing side. As the software and technology is developed, the Sure Growth Solutions team will take it into the field to determine how well it not only detects crops, but also targets them as a sprayer passes over. The team will also be testing the technology with a number of sprayers, to ensure it will work on any model a farmer may choose to install it.

Other factors, such as time of year, weather, crop type and pest type will also be taken into account through the testing.

“We’re going to ensure that we can match the technology with agronomy and the recommendations that an agronomist or farmer would work toward,” Aberhart said.

Being able to provide this new benefit for plant-protein growers and exporters provides a benefit for Sure Growth Solutions, as well. The team focuses on being their clients’ most valuable input, helping farmers allocate their resources in the most sustainable and profitable way possible. This project, Aberhart said, aligns with that value perfectly.

“This is a very exciting new project where we can help growers do a better job with what they’re doing, they can do it with less inputs, less impact on the environment, and hopefully along the way make the world a better place.”

He added that the technology likely wouldn’t be coming together if it weren’t for the collaborative nature of the project partners.

“I truly believe if you surround yourself with amazing people, you can accomplish amazing things,” he said. “So I really believe in that abundance mindset of a supercluster, I really do believe that together is better, and we’re very excited about working with the partners in this project, leveraging each others’ strengths to create something that we couldn’t do individually.”