If Canada wants to lead in AI, it can’t ignore agriculture

If Canada wants to lead in AI, on our own terms, with our own data, and for our own people, we should be leaning into where it already works: in the fields, barns, and processing plants that feed the country.

Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, pictured on the Hill. Applied artificial intelligence is not a future consideration for Canadian agriculture—it is already reshaping how food is produced, processed, and delivered, writes Darrell Petras. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY DARRELL PETRAS

April 30, 2026

Canada has made significant commitments to the development and adoption of artificial intelligence. Focusing national strategies on research excellence, talent development, secure infrastructure, and responsible governance reflects a clear recognition that AI will play a def...

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