As Canadian agriculture works towards a goal of net zero emissions by 2050, Dr. Suresh Neethirajan has developed an innovative new tool to help poultry producers get an accurate picture of their on-farm emissions and identify ways to reduce them. 

Neethirajan, an associate professor and research chair in the Faculty of Computer Science and the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University, took a unique approach to gather information on greenhouse gas emissions from the poultry industry. His goal? To provide practical actions to help producers reduce emissions. 

Reliable, quantifiable methods to measure on-farm emissions are limited, making it difficult for producers to see how management changes could effectively reduce greenhouse gases (GHG). Neethirajan and his team saw an opportunity.

“We are using artificial intelligence and satellite data to get a much more precise, quantified measurement of emissions on poultry farms and processing facilities across Canada at an unprecedented resolution,” he says. “The beauty is that these are not vague estimations.” 

Getting a read on regional variations

Neethirajan and his team pioneered a benchmarking system with a first-in-the-world approach for the poultry industry. At the core, they accessed satellite-based atmospheric data from agencies including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

They integrated satellite imagery with advanced machine learning/artificial intelligence to gather snapshots of atmospheric levels of methane and carbon dioxide from more than 1,300 poultry farms and processors across Canada, using data from 2011 to 2024. By correlating emission data with regional climate differences, the team was looking to uncover patterns and trends that could inform more targeted and effective mitigation strategies. 

What they found was significant regional and seasonal variability in GHG emissions from poultry operations based on climate conditions and operational practices. Methane and CO2 emissions were highest in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and B.C., mirroring dense poultry farm and processor regions.

The impact of weather on emission levels was also very distinct. Methane emissions were higher during the summer and fall months when heat and precipitation drive more microbial activity in manure, and more emissions. In winter, microbes are inactive, and methane emissions go down.

“Our findings really highlight the need for seasonal emissions management strategies that account for local conditions,” he says. Those strategies to reduce overall emissions could include advanced manure management (e.g., composting or anaerobic digestion), optimized feed production, incorporating renewable energy options and improving overall feed efficiency. 

By benchmarking GHG emissions in Canada, the research team was able to use artificial intelligence to “predict” farm practices that could reduce emissions based on local conditions mapped through satellite imagery. 

“The AI component allowed us to run different management scenarios so we can now give actionable, measurable recommendations for how and where producers can work on reducing emissions that also take regional weather differences into account,” says Neethirajan. 

New app in the works

Neethirajan knows that reducing emissions on poultry farms will require different activities for different farms, and will also be based on their geographic location. “There is no one size fits all solutions to climate change,” he says.

To make the info relatable and farm-specific, Neethirajan’s team is developing a new mapping app.

The free GHG Mapper app – now in testing – is expected this fall. Built with data from poultry groups across Canada, it shows farm-specific emissions and lets users simulate how changes to manure, feed, or energy use could reduce their footprint – based on their location and climate.

“There are significant differences in farm size, weather patterns and management practices across Canada, and we’ve incorporated all these variables into the GHG Mapper app to provide an effective tool to help the industry reduce emissions,” says Neethirajan. 

“This opens up new opportunities and incentives for producers to adopt sustainable practices that help bridge the gap between environmental stewardship and economic gain.” 

Check out “what if” scenarios

The new app will offer several “what if” scenarios so producers can explore small, actionable changes and their potential impact on reducing farm emissions: 

• What if I cleaned the barns more often to improve air for the birds? 
• What if I made some changes in ventilation maintenance to improve airflow?
• What if I considered seasonal variability for manure management?
• What if I look at barn insulation and heating systems for improved efficiency?
• What if I look at alternative feed ingredients to improve feed efficiency?

“Our approach provides a precise, actionable blueprint to help the Canadian poultry industry achieve significant reductions in methane and carbon dioxide emissions that are tailored to local conditions,” says Neethirajan.