The Farm of the Future Canada initiative by McCain Foods is making progress in reducing the negative environmental effects of farming. Maintaining McCain’s commitment to implementing regenerative agriculture throughout all of its potato land by 2030 depends on Farm of the Future Canada’s progress.

Having completed three growing seasons, the commercial-scale farm situated in Florenceville, NB, the hometown of McCain, is spearheading the company’s endeavor to reinvent the potato cultivation process.

Regenerative agriculture has replaced conventional farming with new methods that prioritize soil health, water use, biodiversity, and climate resilience while improving crop output and quality.

“Through meticulous monitoring and data-driven decision-making, Farm of the Future Canada is cultivating a farm ecosystem that thrives on resilience, diversity, and innovation. Farm of the Future Canada embodies McCain’s deep commitment to collaboration and rigorous environmental stewardship. We are dedicated to developing cutting-edge tools and insights that not only minimize risk for our growers but also pave the way for their progress,” Philippe Thery, Chief Agriculture Officer, mentioned recently.

Delivering Positive Outcomes

About 500 acres make up Farm of the Future Canada, which is situated just outside of Florenceville, New Brunswick. Of that total, 360 acres are farmed, while 140 acres of woodland surround the fields to improve the farm’s ecosystem and promote biodiversity. The farm has also acquired 74 acres from Valley Farms, McCain’s corporate farm partner, and an additional 145 acres through a long-term deal with a nearby producer.

Regenerative agriculture attempts to address four major impact areas, and the Farm has demonstrated success in addressing these issues, as reported in the company’s Farm of the Future Canada Year Three Report.

Soil Health – With practices like controlled-traffic farming, tillage reduction, and planting cover crops, soils are less compacted overall. Farm of the Future Canada is demonstrating the potential for increases in soil organic carbon, and subsequently, organic matter, enhancing soil health over time;

Water Management – Innovations like controlled-traffic farming have reduced soil compaction, thereby increasing water infiltration by 117%, and reducing soil erosion and nutrient loss by 20 to 60%. This contributes to nutrients staying within the production system thus preventing the pollution of our surface and groundwater resources;

Biodiversity – Introducing livestock to the Farm highlights the potential for more diverse farming revenue systems while also supporting farm insect diversity. Thriving ecosystems, with wild bee populations and soil biodiversity flourishing, demonstrate the success of biodiversity conservation efforts. McCain has cataloged 500 million sequences using DNA metabarcoding, pulling insights from a complex diversity of soil animals, bacteria, and fungi. McCain is also observing patterns indicating the benefits of cropping diversity where, for example, a higher cropping diversity is linked to a more diverse community of soil animals;

Climate Resilience – Solar panel installation on the Farm has the potential to produce approximately 139,000 kWh of clean energy annually, offsetting the power bill by an estimated USD16,000 or more per year. Greenhouse gas monitoring is showing progress over time, with the Farm’s carbon footprint remaining below the provincial average (an average carbon dioxide equivalent of 66.8 kg/t vs 83 and 107.8 in 2021 and 2022, respectively). These efforts are driving us towards a carbon-neutral future.

“All these outcomes enhance farm resilience, driving better yield and quality of potato. Varieties like Caribou Russet and King Russet have showcased resilience and quality, with stable gross yields and minimal storage losses due to rot, likely connected to reduced soil compaction and improved water filtration,” according to company’s representatives.

Farm of the Future Canada is the first of three promised Farms of the Future sites that McCain has pledged to have operational by the end of 2025. Farm of the Future Africa just completed its second growing season in South Africa.