Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Conventional crop management results in the wastage of inputs, thus lowering farm profit margins. This research program will develop climate smart systems, technologies, and practices to optimize resources allocation, improve soil health, enhance crop productivity to ensure food security, and mitigate environmental risks. This novel, state-of-the-art, and innovative research program will design, develop, integrate, and implement climate smart agricultural technologies by employing sensing and control systems, machine learning, artificial intelligence, neural networks, drone mapping, sensors integration, soil sensing, internet of things, and deep learning models. The developed technologies will be incorporated into conventional agriculture practices/operations to facilitate the implementation of best management practices i.e., development of sensor-based management zones, variable rate (VR) seeding, improved soil health, climate change mitigation, site-specific fertilization, VR application of agrochemicals, sustainable irrigation, improved crop yield, environmental stewardship, and socio-economic benefits in rural communities. This research program will bridge the knowledge gap between conventional and modern agriculture practices. The long-term goal is to develop innovative, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable systems, through fundamental and applied engineering research, to improve yield and quality, while simultaneously ensuring social, economic, and environmental sustainability. This program will also examine the tradeoffs between productivity and the environmental impact of climate smart systems and practices, when compared with traditional agricultural management. Over the next five years, I will train 5 PhD, 3 MSc, 5 undergraduate students and a research technician. Utilizing the state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities, the highly qualified personnel (HQP) will develop innovative systems through experimental, analytical, numerical, design, modeling, and decision-making skills. HQP will have networking opportunities with peers, researchers, and industrial collaborators to increase opportunities for job placements and future career growth in climate smart agriculture technologies. Results arising from this research will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, factsheets, field days, and growers' meetings. Sustainable agricultural management will expand the marketing opportunities and improve socio-economic conditions in rural Canada. The novel technologies and practices developed at UPEI will be transferred to other provinces in Canada for adaptability. This research will focus on potatoes; however, these technologies, with modifications, and adaptation would be applicable for other crops. Smart agriculture practices would benefit agriculture and public of Canada because of their environmental benefits. The research program is targeted to grow smart agriculture industry in Canada.