The 2026 Canada-Wide Science Fair (CWSF), held from May 23 to 30 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, brought together more than 390 student finalists presenting over 340 projects from across the country. Competing for nearly $2 million in prizes and scholarships, these students demonstrated the depth of Canada’s emerging scientific talent while offering practical solutions to real-world challenges.
While the top national awards went to projects in health and cosmology, what stood out for the Small Farm Canada team was the strong presence of agriculture-focused innovations and food waste reduction strategies. These projects, spanning multiple age categories, reflected a growing awareness among young Canadians of the challenges facing farmers and food systems.
The Canada-Wide Science Fair is the country’s largest annual youth STEM event, featuring participants in grades 7 through 12 who have already excelled at regional competitions. Their work spans environmental science, engineering, health sciences, and agriculture, with many tackling pressing issues such as climate resilience, sustainable production, and food security.
Agriculture and Food Systems Take Centre Stage
Several award-winning projects directly addressed agricultural productivity, sustainability, and waste reduction, offering ideas that could have practical applications for small-scale producers.
In the Excellence Award – Bronze Youth category, Avi Joshi of Niagara, Ontario explored how regulating polyphenol oxidase in plants could improve food security by reducing spoilage. Mesa MacDonald from Southeast Saskatchewan investigated whether seeds from store-bought produce could germinate, a question that resonates with growers interested in seed saving. Hania Riaz of Southeast Alberta assessed the bioethanol potential of Alberta crops, highlighting opportunities for alternative farm income streams.
Other youth-level projects included eco-friendly tick repellents and plant-based dyes, with contributions from Tya Dueck, Avery Kydd, Abigayle Nelson, Tamara Mijovic, and Hania Riaz, demonstrating how agricultural science intersects with environmental stewardship.
At the Intermediate level, innovation expanded into systems thinking and applied technology. Anthony Gong and Manny Mei from Toronto developed “Echo Pantry,” a gamified RFID tracking system aimed at reducing household food waste. Ben Harper from Lambton County examined how digester geometry influences methane production, a topic relevant to farms exploring anaerobic digestion. Arya Reddy Kaipatur from Nova Scotia proposed a seaweed-based solution to control nematodes, offering a potential natural alternative to chemical inputs.
Climate resilience also emerged as a key theme. Ahilesh Sivakumar from Saskatoon focused on heritage winter wheat genetics to improve tolerance to stress, while Kaylee Wang from Toronto designed a biodegradable agricultural mulch film with a light-triggered pesticide delivery system, illustrating how materials science may support more sustainable production. Additional recognition in this category included Naomi Buschhaus for work related to livestock comfort and thermal efficiency.
Soil Health, Carbon, and Energy Gain Attention
Projects in the senior and junior categories further emphasized soil health and carbon management, critical concerns for farming.
Felicity Banbury of Waterloo-Wellington earned recognition for “SoilSight,” a systems-based approach to estimating soil organic carbon, an essential metric for productivity and carbon sequestration initiatives. In the junior category, Benjamin Mathew of Calgary explored biochar as a soil amendment, demonstrating its potential to enhance carbon storage and soil fertility. Marco (Amari) Bryan also contributed innovative research exploring plant growth under controlled environmental conditions.
These projects align with broader efforts in Canadian agriculture to improve soil health while contributing to climate change mitigation. For small farmers, such innovations could translate into practical, low-cost tools and practices in the coming years.
Tackling Food Waste with New Tools
Reducing food waste, a recurring topic for Small Farm Canada, was also well represented. Wesley Goodridge of the Canadian Black Scientists Network Youth earned a Challenge Award in Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for developing a system that uses ATP testing and artificial intelligence to assess milk freshness.
A Promising Outlook for Small Farms
Many participants received multiple recognitions. The breadth of agriculture-related work at the 2026 fair signals a promising future for Canadian farming. These student innovators are not only identifying problems but proposing creative, science-based solutions that could support more resilient and sustainable food systems.
For small-scale farmers, the ideas emerging from events like the Canada-Wide Science Fair offer a glimpse into what is ahead. Whether through improved soil management tools, alternative pest control methods, or smarter food tracking systems, the next generation is already contributing to the advancement of agriculture.
Small Farm Canada extends congratulations to all participants and award winners. Readers who are aware of additional agriculture-related projects are encouraged to share them, as continued recognition of these young innovators helps connect their ideas to the farming community that may one day benefit from them.