CSRS 2025 Agriculture Technology Panel Discussion (June 18, 2025)
Title: AgTech – Digital Imaging Technology in Precision Farming and Sustainable Agriculture
Panel Chairs:
- Dr. Keshav Singh, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta (keshav.singh@agr.gc.ca)
- Dr. Derek Peddle, Department of Geography & Environment and Institute for Geospatial Inquiry Instruction & Innovation [i4Geo], University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta (derek.peddle@uleth.ca)
Panel Discussion Summary:
Global agriculture faces an unprecedented challenge to feed an estimated 9.7 billion people by 2050 while adapting to climate change, extreme weather events, and increasing biotic and abiotic stresses that threaten yield stability and seed quality. Achieving significant improvements in crop production demands innovative, data-driven solutions to monitor crop performance, enhance resource efficiency, and enable precision agriculture at local to global scales, and including coordinated jurisdictional baseline standards [e.g. across countries]. One of the most transformative advancements in agricultural technology is digital imaging and remote sensing. The adoption of proximal, airborne (including RPAS), and satellite-based imaging systems has revolutionized the way we collect, analyze, and use crop data. Traditional crop surveying methods, which are often labor-intensive, costly, and time-consuming, are being rapidly replaced by high-throughput systems and real-time field monitoring technologies. These advancements allow for more accurate assessment of crop types, yield potential, and environmental stressors, providing valuable insights for breeders, agronomists, and growers.
This panel discussion will bring together leading experts in smart agriculture, remote sensing, and digital imaging to explore the role of cutting-edge technologies in shaping the future of sustainable agriculture and precision farming. Panelists will discuss:
- High-resolution imaging for crop monitoring: How advanced sensors improve crop management and trait selection in breeding programs.
- Machine learning & predictive modeling: How AI-driven analytics help forecast grain yield and optimize field management strategies.
- Integration of RPAS and satellite imaging in precision agriculture: The benefits of multi-scale remote sensing for real-time plant health monitoring.
- Sustainable farming through digital transformation: How Smart AgTech reduces input costs, improves resource-use efficiency, and enhances decision-making.
The panelists will share research, case studies and insights from across Canada and internationally, showing how novel sensing technologies are enabling smarter, more sustainable farming practices and with demonstrated outcomes. By leveraging these innovations, the agricultural sector can better navigate climate-related challenges while improving productivity, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.
Join us for this engaging discussion to explore the latest advancements in digital imaging technology and their roles in reshaping the future of precision agriculture.
Participants List (Final)
♦ Dr. Catherine Champagne (Government)
Environmental Scientist (Ref link: https://profils-profiles.science.gc.ca/en/profile/catherine-champagne-phd)
Institution: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Area of Expertise: Earth observations, Agroclimate, yield forecasting, drought monitoring, agricultural water balances and land dynamics.
♦ Prof. Aaron Berg (University)
Professor (Ref link: https://geg.uoguelph.ca/faculty/berg-aaron)
Institution: Geography, Environment & Geomatics, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
Area of Expertise: Transformative sensor technologies, hydrology and remote sensing with applications to agriculture, land-atmosphere interactions and hydro-climatology.
♦ Dr. Cassidy Rankine (Industry)
Planet Labs Canada Executive (Ref: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassidy-rankine/?originalSubdomain=ca)
Institution: Planet Labs, Canada
Area of Expertise: Earth observation satellite, aerial, and terrestrial imaging, geospatial technologies and global change agro-ecology.
♦ Prof. Kalifa Goïta (University)
Professor (Ref link: https://www.usherbrooke.
Institution: Centre d’applications et de recherches en télédétection (CARTEL), Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke QC, Canada
Area of Expertise: Remote sensing, geomatics, passive microwaves (radar altimetry), soil moisture, vegetation assessment, forest and agricultural environments, natural resources and hazards.
