b'Cultivating InnovationIn many professions, when you find aMcCains Regenerative Agriculture Framework sets clear system that works you stick with it untilKPIs defining a regenerative potato acre at different stages. Mark is specifically examining his farms inputs you run it into the ground. Growersand is using decision support systems and technology for understand the value of traditions butprecise application. In effect, hes investing in his future they know that adaptation and innovationoperations while trying to optimize the current ones.are key to long-term success. BecauseThe Owen Potato Company is an Innovation Hub where if they run the ground into the ground,fully engaged growers trial best practices. Innovation theres nothing left. Hubs in American and Canadian growing regions are important study models for growers. These farms Take potato grower Mark Owen. He and his father Patdocument the results of their test fields to share findings own and operate their 1,200-acre family farm, Owenwith potato growers with the goal of integrating Potato Company, in Carman, Manitoba, and have beenthose practices into broader farm operations. As Bart growing primarily Russet Burbank potatoes for manyWitherspoon, Field Manager, notes, Its difficult to years. These are process potatoes grown on contract forproperly assess a 10-acre trial. Proof of concept is the McCain Foods for year-round delivery, so consistency ofobjective of the Hubsmoving beyond a successful plot quality and yield are important. trial to normal farm practices. But as they face increasingly volatile weather andAt the Innovation Hub, Mark is testing four different temperatures, lower water supplies, and industry-widenitrogen rates across the rows to see if humic usage will pressure to maximize yields, more of the same mayincrease efficiency of the fertilizer he applies.not be in order. Striving for higher yields in ManitobaOur trial is studying nitrogen optimization and means growers are pushing fertility rates to make sureincorporation of humic acids. Were trying to understand the plants are fed to achieve the new targets. This ledif the physiology of the plant can be encouraged by a Mark to wonder if they were applying too much nitrogenlower dosage of nitrogen up front. We want that plant to prior to emergence and if that is reducing their first setget from the vegetative stage to reproductive as quickly in Russet Burbank, actually leading to lower yields. as possible, because in Manitoba we dont have a long So the Owens are testing new approachesand they aregrowing season. Its really important that we try to get finding that working to obtain higher yields from theirour set and keep that set early, says Mark.fields may indeed require less intervention. Mark is optimistic about the initial results. The trial data Ive been interested in trying different products,seems to show that set was achieved a little bit faster. We different fertilizers, different methods, to see if otherwant to fertilize as efficiently as we can.things might work, says Mark Owen. I think if youreThe partnership between Mark and McCain has also not trying new things, youre missing out. Its exciting toinvolved technology and analysis.steer in the direction that McCain wants to go and I think thats a good partnership! Mark says, Were getting a lot more information than we Mark uses the McCain Foodswould have if wed attempted this trial without McCains Regenerative Agriculturesupport. The biggest part of it has been actually seeing Framework, which targetstangible results from the trial as opposed to just anecdotal reduced agro-chemical impact.information and a few truck weights. Were going to take This is part of McCains globalthese results to grade; were going to analyze yield and if commitment to implementtheres any strong correlation, were going to replicate it.Regenerative AgriculturalWere documenting with yield mapping; were going to take practices across 10010-foot digs and we secured drone imagery throughout the percent of its potatoyear, thanks to McCain. Its a really positive collaboration acreage worldwidewith McCain. Its all geared towards what everybody loves - by the end of 2030.sustainability. We are McCain'