Using worm waste to “supercharge” agricultural soils

An Alberta company won the first Innovations Award presented at the Western Canadian Crop Production Show in Saskatoon last week.

Annelida Soil Soil Solutions has a 90,000 square foot facility in Nisku, Alberta containing stacks of containers filled with soil and worms. The worms generate food waste into a product that is applied as a seed treatment, or directly into the soil in a liquid or granular form.

Annelida Director of Sales, Jamie DePape says the soil’s ability to retain water is improved as is the plant’s tolerance to various stresses. Annelida Soil Solutions was started four years ago with the company concentrating its initial efforts in Alberta. The 2024 Western Canadian Crop Production Show was the company’s first foray into Saskatchewan.

Second place in the Innovations Award competition was presented to Redekop Manufacturing’s Seed Control Unit. The system uses an impact mill to crush weed seeds as they exit the combine. There is as much as a 98 per cent kill rate on weeds such as kochia.

Third place went to the SWAT Camera Croptimistic Technology. The cameras mount on either side of the spray boom and take images every 60 feet. The SWAT camera distinguishes between the crop and a weed. The data is used to make a map which can be used to make decisions on variable rate fertilizer and herbicide applications. The technology is being used on canola and soybean crops and is undergoing testing this year on cereals and lentils.

CJWW Agriculture Director Neil Billinger interviewed representatives from all three companies. (Photos courtesy of Prairieland Park)

First Place—Annelida Soil Solution’s (Jamie DePape)