ExtraMile by YourTechDiet is back with another season of exclusive interviews featuring thought leaders and top voices from the tech world. So, brace yourself and accompany us on the journey of discovering breakthrough innovations and the minds behind them.
We are pleased to have Masood Rizvi, General Manager of NRGene Canada, for today’s discussion. NRGene has been a pioneer in agri-genomics technology and AI-driven genomics solutions. Its cloud-based platform has been revolutionizing the agri-tech sector.
In the conversations with Masood, we’ll try to get a holistic picture of how NRGene works across major crops and emerging bio-economy sectors. Additionally, we’ll explore sustainable protein, the role of AI-powered solutions in agriculture, and the importance of sustainability for a better future.
Let’s get started without any delay. Welcome, Masood; we’re glad to have you with us today!
1. You have been contributing to the ag-tech sector for over 25 years. How has the industry evolved, and what are the major trends today?
Masood. Over the past two and a half decades, agriculture has shifted from being primarily input-driven to intelligence-driven. Earlier, productivity gains came from fertilizers, chemicals, and mechanization. Today, the most transformative gains are coming from data, genetics, and digital tools. We are seeing agriculture converge with AI, genomics, automation, and sustainability science.
Key trends include precision breeding, AI-assisted decision-making, climate-resilient crops, and alternative proteins. There is also a strong push toward circular bio-economy models that use waste streams as inputs, reduce emissions, and extract higher value per unit of biomass. Importantly, the industry is moving from incremental improvements to system-level innovation.
2. NRGene Canada aims to improve agri-genetic research through technology integration. How does this advance global agriculture?
Masood. Technology integration allows us to shorten breeding cycles, increase accuracy, and dramatically reduce costs. By combining AI, cloud computing, and genomics, NRGene enables breeders and producers to understand complex traits, yield, disease resistance, and stress tolerance at a resolution that was not possible before.
This has global implications. Whether it is canola in Canada, grains in Europe, or specialty crops elsewhere, the same genomic intelligence platform can be adapted across regions and species. Ultimately, this means faster delivery of resilient, high-performing genetics to farmers, which directly supports food security and economic sustainability.
3. As General Manager of NRGene Canada, what are your regular responsibilities, and how do you ensure delivery of cutting-edge solutions?
Masood. My role sits at the intersection of science, business, and partnerships. On a daily basis, I oversee strategy execution, R&D alignment, customer engagement, and collaborations with industry, academia, and government. A key responsibility is ensuring that advanced genomic tools translate into practical, field-ready solutions.
We stay cutting-edge by working closely with end users, seed companies, breeders, and protein producers while continuously integrating new AI capabilities and biological insights. Innovation only matters if it solves real problems, so we prioritize impact, scalability, and adoption.
4. NRGene participated in the North American Coalition for Insect Agriculture AGM 2025. What were the key takeaways?
Masood. The most important takeaway was that insect agriculture is transitioning from pilot-scale innovation to industrial deployment. The sector is maturing rapidly, with increased focus on genetics, biosecurity, standardization, and regulatory clarity.
Another key insight was the growing recognition that genetics and data will define the next phase of insect farming. Just as plant and animal breeding transformed traditional agriculture, genomic selection and AI-driven optimization will determine productivity, resilience, and consistency in insect protein systems.
5. What is sustainable protein, and why is it important for long-term food security?
Masood. Sustainable protein is protein produced with lower environmental impact, efficient resource use, and long-term scalability. This includes plant-based proteins, fermentation-derived ingredients, and insect protein.
Its importance lies in the fact that global protein demand is rising faster than conventional systems can sustainably supply. Sustainable protein diversifies our food system, reduces pressure on land and water, and enables local, resilient production models critical for both environmental and economic stability.
6. How is NRGene transforming agricultural waste into premium animal protein, and what role does AI play?
Masood. NRGene supports insect-based systems that convert agricultural by-products into high-value protein for animal feed. The transformation happens through biologically efficient insects, such as black soldier fly larvae, which upcycle low-value biomass into nutritionally rich protein and lipids.
AI and cloud-based analytics are essential here. They allow optimization of genetics, feeding regimes, growth rates, and health parameters. This data-driven approach improves yield consistency, reduces losses, and ensures predictable quality—key requirements for commercial feed markets.
7. How will AI-powered solutions transform agriculture in the coming years, and how is NRGene leading this shift?
Masood. AI will become the backbone of agricultural decision-making. From predicting disease outbreaks to selecting optimal genetics and managing production systems in real time, AI enables proactive rather than reactive agriculture.
NRGene leads by embedding AI directly into genomic workflows. Instead of generating data for analysis later, our platforms integrate learning algorithms that continuously improve predictions as more data is added. This creates a self-reinforcing system where accuracy and value increase over time.
8. Why is sustainability critical in today’s tech-first world, and how does it shape the future?
Masood. In a tech-first world, sustainability is no longer optional—it is foundational. Technology gives us the tools to measure, optimize, and redesign biological systems for efficiency and resilience. Preserving sustainability ensures that innovation does not come at the cost of future generations.
By aligning technology with ecological limits, we can build food systems that are productive, profitable, and regenerative. That is the future we are working toward at NRGene—where science, technology, and sustainability reinforce each other.
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