RDAR boosts national on-farm information delivery in new partnership with FCC

RDAR, a leader in results-driven agricultural research in Canada, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) to work together in delivering faster, smarter on-farm support to Canadian producers through Root - a free generative AI tool created by FCC.

Root is designed to close critical information gaps and provide users fast, reliable support anytime, anywhere, helping them work more productively to make better decisions on the farm; with the new collaboration set to expand Root’s capabilities, strengthening its capacity to serve Canada’s ag and food industry. The partnership will connect Root to relevant data sources and support testing efforts to ensure it continues to meet the evolving needs of Canadian producers; creating an alliance that will foster innovative solutions for the agricultural sector.

It is intended that Root will play an important role in bridging gaps in extension services by delivering accessible, expert-backed guidance to producers without requiring complex data inputs. The tool translates decades of research, field experience and proven practices into practical, timely advice producers can use immediately. By simplifying decision-making and increasing confidence on the farm, Root will help accelerate productivity, reduce trial-and-error and empower Canadian producers to adopt better practices with less risk, direct from their smart-phones.

“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,” says 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 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.”