Government of Canada invests in machine learning technology to improve crop management and disease detection in vineyards

TORONTO, Sept. 10, 2026 /CNW/ -- Canadian farmers need modern tools to protect their crops and stay competitive. By investing in innovative agricultural technology, the Government of Canada is helping producers build a more resilient sector.

Today, Karim Bardeesy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry and Member of Parliament for Taiaiako'n--Parkdale--High Park, Ontario, on behalf of the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an investment of up to $1,693,412 for Vivid Machines Inc. (VMI) through the AgriScience Program – Projects Component under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. This funding will support the development of cutting-edge computer vision and machine learning technology to help grape growers improve harvests and detect crop diseases early.

Through this project, VMI will adapt and expand the use of its current Vivid XV technology from apple orchards to grape vineyards. The company will upgrade their XV camera technology and train new computer vision models to spot crop diseases early, track fruit quality and predict yields on a per-vine, row and block basis. This technology will provide growers with real-time insights to protect their crops, reduce chemical use and support the resilience of Canada's grape and wine sector.

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting agricultural innovation that helps improve food production and drive long-term economic growth.

Quotes

"Our grape growers work incredibly hard. By supporting the right technology, we help safeguard the crops that support our communities and local economies. Investing in Vivid Machine Inc.'s smart imaging tools will help producers be more resilient so they can continue growing the top-quality grapes that Canadians, and the world, love."
  -    The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"Growing top-quality grapes takes skill and determination. Canadian grape growers have shown their resilience time and time again in the face of challenges, from crop diseases and unpredictable weather to shifting markets and yields. This investment in crop monitoring technology will give them the insights they need to protect their vineyards and keep our grape and wine sector thriving."
  -    Karim Bardeesy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry and Member of Parliament for Taiaiako'n--Parkdale--High Park

"This $1.69M investment from the Government of Canada through the AgriScience Program is a vote of confidence in Canadian-made innovation. It allows us to take the computer vision technology we've built for apple growers and adapt it to tackle some of the toughest challenges facing grape growers such as crop load estimation, and early disease detection. It also means we can keep growing our team right here in Toronto, building the kind of high-skilled agtech jobs that keep Ontario at the forefront of precision agriculture."
  -    Jenny Lemieux, Co-Founder & CEO, Vivid Machines Inc.

Quick Facts

• Vivid Machines is a Canadian agri-tech start-up that develops automated, plant-level imaging tools to help fruit growers optimize yields and manage crop health.
• The Vivid XV System is an AI camera that mounts onto farm equipment like tractors and sprayers, to scan plants in real time, gathering data on plant health, fruit development, and early disease risks.
• Computer vision is artificial intelligence technology that lets computers "see" by capturing and interpreting images and videos.
• Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence that trains computers to learn from data and spot patterns over time, allowing them to make smart predictions on their own without being given instructions from a human.
• The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is a $3.5-billion, 5-year agreement (2023 to 2028), between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food, and agri‐based products sector. 
• The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable CAP, aims to accelerate innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector and Canadians.

Additional Links

• AgriScience Program – Projects Component
• Vivid Machines Inc.

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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Contacts: For media: Jennica Klassen, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, [email protected]; Media Relations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 613-773-7972, 1-866-345-7972, [email protected]