The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food recently announced a $2.6 million investment in the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) to support three projects that will use artificial intelligence to assess and improve alfalfa growth and develop a Canadian grassland carbon offset system. Alfalfa is an important forage crop that helps farmers trap and fix carbon, return nutrients to the soil, and improve soil health.
Minister Bibeau made the announcement at the Bergerie Malvibois farm in Sawyerville, Quebec, which is one of the project's major data collection sites.
The three projects receiving funding are as follows:
- Up to $998,185 to develop a tool to improve yield and forage nutritive value from alfalfa fields using artificial intelligence.
- Up to $996,190 to develop a tool to assess and improve alfalfa's winter survival rates with artificial intelligence and persistency by combining data and remote imagery with artificial intelligence.
- Up to $621,572 to develop an assurance system for farmers to produce and sell carbon offsets, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and retention of Canada's grasslands.
The Government says the three projects will aid farmers in better understanding alfalfa growth, while also lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and says it is dedicated to helping farmers with new and innovative ways to increase cover crop yields and develop a sustainable agriculture industry.