Processing infrastructure and technology in Alberta’s agricultural system

Precision agriculture: The findings related to processing infrastructure and technology barriers and enablers are in line with advancements in precision agriculture and goal dependencies within Alberta’s agricultural system

Precision agriculture, as defined by the International Society of Precision Agriculture, is “a management strategy that gathers, processes, and analyzes temporal-spatial and individual data and combines it with other information to support management decisions according to estimated variability for improved resource use efficiency, productivity, quality, profitability, and sustainability of agricultural production.” ⁽¹⁾

There is an increased desire towards the adoption of agricultural technology, including sensor technology, automated self-driving machinery, and artificial intelligence. The adoption of such technologies has been linked to various benefits and sustainability outcomes, such as decreasing environmental impacts through reduced input usage, cost reduction, and yield improvement. ^(2-4)

However, several factors impeding the adoption of these technologies and the transition to precision agriculture have been identified. These factors include high investment costs and maintenance costs, an aging farming population, a lack of knowledge regarding precision agricultural technology, and the complexity of the technology, particularly with software usage and connectivity. ^{(2-3, 5-6)} Another factor that slows down the adoption of these technologies and the transition to precision agriculture is the small farm size. ^{(3, 5-6)}

This suggests that producers scaling up their operations may become more disadvantaged as production shifts toward a predominant precision agriculture system. Therefore, actors within the agricultural system will play an increasingly important role in administering the knowledge and experience necessary to adapt to such systems, alleviating further expenses, and relying on advisory and consultant services that cannot be afforded at the scaling-up level.

Precision agriculture: Improving Alberta’s agricultural system

A similar increasing demand for precision agriculture has been exhibited in Alberta. In 2019, the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) was established by the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund. Two key Alberta partners in the initiative are the agriculture-oriented colleges, Olds College and Lakeland College. ⁽⁷⁾ In 2020, the Government of Alberta launched the Agri-food Investment and Growth Strategy, which focuses on the production of high-quality agri-food products in connection with increasing investment and global exports.

One of the opportunities highlighted in this strategy is investment in agricultural technology. Investing in agricultural technology will, in turn, increase sustainable stewardship, diversification, economic growth, and the quality of the agrifood products being produced. ⁽⁸⁾ Furthermore, in 2021, the Canadian Agricultural Partnership Farm Technology program was launched in Alberta. The program “supports the adoption of innovative technology that minimizes agricultural waste, optimizes farm efficiency, and encourages the adoption of best management practices in farm security.” The program provides primary producers with financial incentives to help support the implementation of various technologies, such as digital sensors for inputs and remote monitoring cameras. ⁽⁸⁾

As Alberta transitions into a digital economy, there will be an increasing demand for robotics, automation, and digital software usage (Alberta Innovates). This demand might also develop into regulatory requirements related to audits and food safety specifications alongside sustainable business practices. This transition may become an additional barrier for producers scaling up their operations, as they will need to acquire an additional set of knowledge and expertise to remain competitive in the market.

In addition to acquiring knowledge, adopting technology requires additional financial capital. For producers scaling up their operations, this equates to an additional expense in comparison to medium-scale or large-scale operations, who may view this as an opportunity to become more efficient in their operations and not have to rely as predominantly on manual labour.

References

1. Bournaris, T., Correia, M., Guadagni, A., Karouta, J., Krus, A., Lombardo, S., Vieri, M. (2022). Current skills of students and their expected future training needs on precision agriculture: Evidence from Euro-Mediterranean higher education institutes. Agronomy, 12(2), 269.
2. Kutter, T., Tiemann, S., Siebert, R., Fountas, S. (2011). The role of communication and co operation in the adoption of precision farming. Precision Agriculture, 12, 2-17.
3. Paustian, M., Theuvsen, L. (2017). Adoption of precision agriculture technologies by German crop farmers. Precision Agriculture, 18, 701-716.
4. Yatribi, T. (2020). Factors affecting precision agriculture adoption: A systematic literature review. Economics-Innovative and Economics Research Journal, 8(2), 103-121.
5. Alexandridis, T. K., Andrianopoulos, A., Galanis, G., Kalopesa, E., Dimitrakos, A., Katsogiannos, F., Zalidis, G. (2017). An Integrated Approach to Promote Precision Farming as a Measure Toward Reduced-Input Agriculture in Northern Greece Using a Spatial Decision Support System. Comprehensive Geographic Information Systems, 315 352.
6. Barnes, A. P., Soto, I., Eory, V., Beck, B., Balafoutis, A., Sánchez, B., Gómez-Barbero, M. (2019). Exploring the adoption of precision agricultural technologies: A cross regional study of EU farmers. Land use policy, 80, 163-174.
7. Alberta Innovates. (2020). Transforming farming through innovation. Retrieved from https://albertainnovates.ca/news/transforming-farming-through-innovation/
8. Government of Alberta. (2023). Canadian agriculture partnership farm technology program. Retrieved from https://www.alberta.ca/canadian-agricultural-partnership-farm technologyprogram#:~:text=The%20new%20Farm%20Technology%20Program,management%20practices%20in%20farm%20security

Tymczak, A. (2025). Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Alberta’s Small-Scale Agricultural Sector: Pathways for New Entrants, Knowledge Transfer, and Institutional Barriers [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Alberta

Aleksandra Tymczak
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0774-6650