A Toronto AgTech firm is harnessing machine learning and AI technology to optimize nitrogen application on the farm, minimizing input costs and greenhouse gas emissions.The Integrated Real-Time Nitrogen Guidance System for Optimizing Canadian Prairie Agriculture, developed by Toronto’s Ukko Agro Inc. holds promise for productivity and profitability for farmers, while reducing the environmental impact of their operations.Specifically, the project will allow agronomists to guide farmers on in-season nitrogen use in precise locations for target yield goals, reducing GHG-producing applications.One of Ukko’s partners in this work is Montreal-based ChrysaLabs, whose soil probes are used to provide data on real-time nitrogen levels, which is then communicated to Ukko’s platform, generating recommendations on appropriate inputs.The platform effectively creates a 2-D digital twin of the agronomist’s client fields, including data on nitrogen use—how much was applied to what soil on what date. Additional relevant data such weather and moisture levels are added, allowing the system to make predictive recommendations based on various factors.The ChrysaLabs probes are then used to evaluate the accuracy of the Ukko platform’s analysis, allowing Ukko’s team to fine tune the AI-generated results and continually improve outcomes. Data is added as it becomes available.Training the AI to reach a critical mass is expensive and time-consuming. A recent hiccup was Ukko’s realisation that its in-house researcher’s computing system was not up to the task of crunching the massive amounts of data needed for the system to calibrate the algorithm. It requires a much more sophisticated approach than anticipated. When fully operational, this closed-loop system will reduce waste and provide significant benefits in terms of broad-acre GHG emissions.The mandate of Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is to fund technological responses to the most significant opportunities and challenges facing the nation’s agri-food producers and primary processors.CAAIN granted $768,717 to the $2,331,519 project. Overall, CAAIN is spending $33M on 36 projects with a combined total value of roughly $100M.“As someone who grew up on a Prairie farm, I couldn’t be more excited about the story we’re unveiling today,” explained Darrell Petras, CAAIN’s CEO. “It’s not uncommon for agtech innovation to require five years of R&D to become profitable,” concluded Petras. “Ukko operates in a B2B environment, selling its technology to retail agronomists who serve as trusted advisors to the farmers they support. In a 24-month span—effectively three growing seasons—Ukko has gone from eight clients to 16 to 35+. That’s truly remarkable and is testament both to the excellence of the product and the steady guidance of its CEO, Avi Bhargava.”CAAIN is a not-for-profit company launched in July 2019 with funding of $49.5-million from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund, and assistance from Alberta Innovates in the form of significant in-kind contributions. CAAIN drives collaborative agri-food technology research and innovation from coast to coast.
