LOCATION: Wellington B
WEDNESDAY, February 10, 2027 – 3:10 – 3:50pm
Oscar Molina is a Research Scientist leading the Cropping Systems Program at the Morden Research and Development Centre. He has a MSc and Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of Manitoba, and has worked as a research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada since 2019. His research focuses on environmentally sound field-crop production and best management practices that help mitigate the impacts of biotic and abiotic stresses. Dr. Molina contributes to several multidisciplinary projects aimed at developing innovative, integrated crop-management systems that reduce climate-change impacts while improving productivity and resiliency.
New Eyes, New Tools, New Possibilities: Applications of Digital Technologies in Agricultural Research
Digital technologies are creating new opportunities to improve agricultural-research, from crop establishment and field data collection to crop phenotyping and disease assessment. This presentation will highlight some of the ongoing research in Manitoba exploring practical applications of these technologies. Particular emphasis will be placed on drone seeding of cover crops and its potential to promote earlier establishment and greater biomass production. Other examples include sensor-based platforms for wheat phenotyping and machine learning for automated Fusarium head blight assessment. Together, these projects demonstrate how digital tools can improve research efficiency, speed, and consistency while supporting crop improvement and sustainable agricultural production.