Research-driven solutions for climate-resilient prairie agriculture and ecology through digital innovation and integrated plant health approaches
The Prairie Institute for Agriculture and Ecology (PIAE) is an independent, not-for-profit research institute that brings together agricultural and ecological science with genetics, digital agriculture, remote sensing, data science, and AI to translate research into practical solutions for resilient and productive agricultural systems.
Working alongside universities and other research organizations, PIAE advances applied, translational, and digitally enabled research grounded in the needs of producers and Prairie agriculture.
PIAE bridges research and application by working with universities, producers, industry, and government to integrate emerging technologies, validate innovations under real-world conditions, and accelerate their translation into practical agricultural solutions.
Digital agriculture connects our research across crops, soils, and landscapes. We combine field science with advanced sensors, imaging, remote sensing, data analytics, and AI to generate actionable insights and accelerate agricultural innovation.
Producer needs help shape our research priorities. We work in real production environments to ensure that research questions, technologies, and solutions are relevant, practical, and responsive to Prairie agriculture.
PIAE connects research with producers through field demonstrations, learning hubs, workshops, and extension resources. This two-way exchange brings producer needs into research and translates discoveries into practical knowledge and tools for the farm.
PIAE brings together universities, research organizations, producers, agronomists, industry, government, and communities to combine complementary expertise and move agricultural innovation toward practical impact.
Predictive analytics, precision agriculture systems, and climate-adaptive decision tools that transform how prairie producers manage crop health and optimize farm operations under changing climate conditions.
A next-generation ecology program that studies the working Prairie as one coupled system — using field ecology, evolution, and data science to forecast ecological change, measure the land's carbon and ecosystem-service value, and turn that understanding into tools producers and policymakers can act on.
Interdisciplinary research on native and managed pollinators, their habitats, and the ecological services they provide — supporting biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, and sustainable agriculture across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
A farmer-focused extension service connecting prairie producers directly with agricultural specialists. The PIAE Hotline operates during growing seasons, offering immediate expert diagnosis and practical solutions for crop health challenges in the field.
A strategic PIAE initiative advancing canola production, research, and knowledge sharing worldwide, connecting researchers, producers, and industry stakeholders to address critical challenges facing canola agriculture — including the Global Clubroot Seminar Series 2026.
A long-term initiative to collect, characterize, and unlock the potential of diverse canola (Brassica napus) and related Brassica germplasm — integrating genomics, advanced phenotyping, remote sensing, and AI for the next generation of crop improvement.
Producer-focused weed science combining field surveys, herbicide resistance diagnostics, weed multi-omics, and AI-assisted detection to give canola growers earlier warning, smarter scouting, and better decisions as resistant weeds spread across the Prairies.
Producer-focused plant pathology that combines disease surveillance, pathogen biology, resistance discovery, AI-assisted detection, and advanced diagnostics — helping Prairie canola growers catch disease earlier, diagnose it accurately, and protect yield as pathogens evolve.