A Lethbridge researcher is leading the effort to accelerate the digital transformation of the Canadian agriculture sector.
In modern farming, innovation is key to addressing both biotic and abiotic stresses. Exciting research being done out of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Remote Sensing and Phenomics Lab (RSP Lab) at the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre is harnessing data-driven tools to transform farming practices, including helping accelerate the development of new crop varieties.
Keshav Singh, who leads the RSP Lab group, has dedicated several years to developing cutting-edge technologies that empower farmers. Over the past three years, Singh’s lab has worked to develop digital tools that help producers make better decisions using advanced technology.
One of his projects, supported by Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), focuses on spectral imaging technology to estimate nitrogen (N) fertilizer-use-efficiency to optimize grain yield and quality in wheat and canola. This project uses high-resolution sensors to model N-uptake from plants and estimate N losses with nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions.
The team is also using a combination of unmanned ground and aerial vehicles (UAVs and UGVs) and satellites to map fields and gather detailed information about crops, helping breeders and farmers get a clearer picture of what’s happening in their fields.
Singh’s team is part of a national collaboration with six other AAFC research centres, including five Prairie farms, to improve plant phenotyping. Supported by funding from the Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) and Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat), the project is also testing tools like the University of Saskatchewan Field Phenotyping System (UFPS Cart), to enable more effective crop imaging. These technologies use artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tools and models to help breeders and farmers identify the best-performing crops faster and make smarter decisions about how to grow them.
Keshav Singh
“In Western Canada and North America in general, farms are vast, and conventional scouting methods — walking fields and inspecting specific areas — really are labour-intensive and limited in scope. Farmers need new and better tools to get the job done, and that’s what we’re helping deliver,” Singh says.
Eye on Traits
Singh’s team is taking part in a three-year pilot project leveraging UGVs, Canadian-designed robots to streamline the identification of desirable traits in crop breeding plot trials, accelerating the development of new crop varieties.
Central to this initiative is the UFPS Cart technology, which are automated, ground-based units equipped with advanced sensors and cameras designed to capture detailed crop data as they traverse fields. It enables precise, cost-effective identification of phenotypic traits — observable characteristics critical to crop improvement.
AAFC, with funding support from WGRF, acquired six UFPS Carts from the University of Saskatchewan, where the technology was originally developed around 2018. These units are now deployed at AAFC research farms across the Prairies and in Ottawa, contributing to a collaborative project aimed at refining best practices for this transformative technology.
The carts are currently helping gather data in diverse environments to predict valuable quantities like plant size and growth patterns in wheat varieties, making it easier to evaluate which varieties perform best.
“We’re working on creating simple, standardized methods for storing and analyzing the information, so it’s easier to use for crop research and improvement decisions that farmers need to make,” Singh says.
Precision Scouting: The Farmer’s Game-Changer
For Singh, one of the most transformative applications of modern technology lies in field scouting.
Drones or UAVs equipped with smart sensors have become powerful allies in this space. These tools can quickly collect high-resolution data, allowing farmers to assess crop health and pinpoint areas requiring attention.
“With drones, we can identify zones that aren’t performing well and connect that data to variables like weed management or fertilizer application,” he adds. “It’s about moving from reactive to proactive farming — making informed, precise decisions that optimize yields and conserve resources.”
The technology doesn’t just save time; it enables insights into the unseen with science based solutions.
“Sensors can detect stress factors beyond the visible spectrum, in the near-infrared and thermal range, offering data on disease severity and soil health. This means we can predict and mitigate issues like root rot in field peas without pulling plants for lab testing — a huge leap forward.”
AAFC Lethbridge researcher Keshav Singh demonstrates aerial and ground imaging tools used to evaluate crops’ response in a changing climate.
From Research to Real-World Impact
Singh believes in bridging the gap between research and practical application. While much of his work focuses on plant breeding, crop management and disease identification, partnerships with industry are key to bolstering the impact. One example is a collaboration with John Deere, where his team helps refine sensing filters for sprayer equipment and more.
“These filters help farmers apply fertilizers or pesticides more efficiently, cutting down on waste and improving precision. Our focus is on the research side, but at the end of the day, it’s the farmers with advanced machinery who really see the benefits,” Singh says.
But the project is not exclusive to sprayers and booms. What really inspired John Deere to collaborate with Singh’s team is the team’s ability to bring a fresh perspective to precision agriculture, says Christian Hansen, small grains agronomist with John Deere Canada.
“We chose to [take part] to ensure we are working with experts in the fields of spectroscopy and agronomy because this is critical to ensuring the products we create are tested and ready for use in the geographies we expect to offer them in,” Hansen says.
Singh’s team at AAFC plays a vital part in this process.
“They’re providing top-notch data and results from field studies, which help John Deere fine-tune their designs. This makes the technology more reliable and easier for farmers to use.”
There are three primary goals from this study for John Deere: prove that a split application is not detrimental to yield to ensure it is viable from an agronomic and economic standpoint; explore sensing technologies that can be utilized to infer crop N status and apply based on nutrient deficiency/sufficiency; and discover if split applications and targeted N-application will reduce overall N2O emissions and enhance nitrogen use efficiency.
The potential impact of these advancements on farming practices is big, Hansen says.
“John Deere’s See & Spray technology today is offered in several different formats (Select, Premium and Ultimate) primarily for herbicide applications. There is opportunity to expand offerings to other applications performed throughout the season.”
AAFC’s strategic focus on digital transformation underpins Singh’s work. AAFC’s 10-year plan for digital agriculture technology research emphasizes climate resilience and data-driven farming.
“By integrating AI, machine learning, and advanced sensing technologies, we aim to create smart tools that farmers can use to tackle emerging challenges,” Singh adds.
Farmers are integral to this.
“I regularly engage with producers at field days, showing them how these technologies can fit their operations. While startups offer similar solutions, our role as a federal institution is to provide knowledge and insights without cost barriers. Technology has the power to change the game, and we’re here to help farmers harness it.”
Matthew Wells, rural extension specialist for Lethbridge County, says such extension activities and field days play a pivotal role in disseminating valuable information out to producers.
When hosting field days or extension activities, he seeks out experts like Singh that are actively conducting the research, are looking at the needs of the farmer and the practicality of that research.
“It’s important to promote results that showcase the benefits to producers. Many farmers are intrigued by the potential, but further research is needed. Beyond that, what is the availability of this technology, the cost? These are questions producers want to know.”
He adds that Singh’s field day allows producers to see firsthand sensor technologies that can be utilized and their potential.
“It also gives the producers the opportunity to discuss with the experts like Keshav and determine if the technology could be utilized for their own farming practice,” Well says.
