Canadian Farmers Get AI Farm Support
Farmers and food producers across Canada can now access faster, smarter support with Root, a free AI-powered tool from Farm Credit Canada (FCC). Root is designed to close the growing gap in agriculture extension services by offering real-time guidance and advice—directly from a mobile phone.
Root gives producers quick, expert-backed answers based on decades of research and proven practices. It doesn’t require complex data inputs and is built with user privacy in mind. Producers get practical, reliable help without sharing personal information, helping them make better decisions with more confidence.
Now, FCC is enhancing Root’s abilities through a new partnership with Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR). This collaboration will link Root to new data sources and strengthen testing to better serve the needs of today’s producers.
“Root is more than a technology solution, it’s part of a broader effort to bring back something Canadian agriculture has lost: accessible, trusted and timely insight,” said Justine Hendricks, FCC president and CEO.
“With the decline of local advisory networks [extension services], too many farmers and ranchers have had to rely on fragmented information or go at it alone. By partnering with RDAR, we’re helping producers access the kind of expertise that once came from decades of community-based knowledge sharing and we’re doing it in real time, at the pace of modern farming with trusted advisors.”
RDAR brings extensive expertise, with over 500 projects aimed at improving productivity and innovation in Canadian agriculture. Their research materials will be integrated into Root, expanding its knowledge base and making helpful tools more widely accessible.
"We are especially keen on incorporating RDAR materials into Root, FCC’s AI / Large Language Model Pilot and making our materials accessible to producers and ranchers," said Dr. Mark Redmond, CEO of RDAR. "We are pleased to formalize our partnership with FCC; in the past, we have worked on initiatives concurrently, but now we will collaborate more closely. This alliance aims to foster innovative solutions for the agricultural sector."
Root offers voice-to-text and image recognition and is available in English and French. Already, over 2,900 conversations have been supported and 400 images analyzed to solve on-farm issues.
With no sign-up needed, farmers can start using Root immediately at FCC Root – your virtual farm assistant. Future versions may include even more advanced support for both producers and agribusinesses.
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