How our farms are getting more sustainable

(NC) Businesses across every industry are taking a longer-term view of how they operate. Sustainability has become a bit of a buzzword for large businesses, but for farmers it’s always been an essential consideration. Avoiding soil fatigue and erosion, minimizing water use and producing more with less takes a willingness to innovate that’s always been a key asset of Canadian farmers.

Farms are getting smarter. Farmers are embracing the newest technology to help them produce larger yields with fewer resources. Some are AI-powering their strategic planning, using data models to better set out planting, watering, pest control and harvesting schedules.

The data for those platforms comes in via sensors placed out in the field, on equipment or in buildings, that also let farmers monitor conditions across their business in real time and react more efficiently to problems as they come up.

New crops are fueling farm sustainability. Crop development has always been an important aspect of Canada’s farm industry—Canola was a Canadian invention that took careful breeding and a scientific approach. That tradition continues with new crops serving as biofuels, helping the agriculture sector, and industry at large, reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

Farmers are reaping the benefits of strategic planning. More farmers are taking a strategic approach to managing their business, from their seed stock to their balance sheets. For instance, scenario planning can help a farm better weather storms, flooding or drought.

“Many farmers are taking advantage of resources geared to their businesses through available partnerships,” says Lorna McKercher, national director, agriculture at RBC. “They’re reaching out to get risk management advice and financing options that can help their farms operate for generations to come.”

By taking a strategic, forward-thinking approach, farmers are helping ensure their businesses—and the food they produce—are sustainable and available for Canadians in the long term.

Learn more at rbc.com/agriculture.