Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

This Engage proposal is the start of an applied research program between Saskatchewan Polytechnic (SP) andindustry partner North West Communities Wood Products Ltd., which manages and markets wild rice throughNWC Wild Rice. NWC Wild Rice is a fully Indigenous-owned and operated business, working in collaborationwith Métis and Cree wild rice grower/harvesters in the far North West region of Saskatchewan. NWC is proudto partner with Saskatchewan Polytechnic, working together to develop improvements to harvester airboats.Saskatchewan Polytechnic's research team and students will be engaged in developing design elements on wildrice harvesting equipment that offer the highest likelihood to positively impact harvest results for the benefit ofthe harvesters, their families, and the lands and waters where they live and work.This stage of work includes design innovation & early POC (Proof of Concept) hardware development.Saskatchewan Polytech will be in ongoing discussions with the growers/harvesters, and will leverageleading-edge 3D design and advanced manufacturing technology to dramatically increase wild rice farmers'efficiency and profitability. This phase will incorporate electronic-only (virtual) builds to limit iterations andcost. Software can create 3D prints and software driven machining/weldments in SP labs and shops so POCcan be physically seen, tested a necessary using this software model. This research partnership is grounded inthe shared concept that harvesting technology for the North's largest agricultural crop must be efficient,maximize the return on the crop to the grower/harvesters, and protect the health of the environment. To date,there has not been significant technological adaptation and advancement done to support machinery in thisSaskatchewan-based agricultural industry. This lack is especially stark when compared to the advances indry-land farming equipment and technology available in Saskatchewan since the 1970s. This project may bethe first time an investment in engineering research and development, or even any modern efficiency thinking,has been applied to the mechanization of wild rice agriculture.