Aiming to change the way fresh produce is grown in Canada, two University of Guelph-led research teams are competing in the second phase of the $33 million Homegrown Innovation Challenge to grow out-of-season berries in Canada at scale. entered in. This effort is funded and implemented by the Weston Family Foundation.
Dr. Mike Dixon and Dr. Yubin Zheng, professors in the School of Environmental Sciences (SES) at the Ontario College of Agriculture, are leading a team exploring sustainable and cost-effective ways to extend the berry growing season.
Their team is one of 11 selected from across the country to develop a small-scale proof-of-concept berry growing solution. Figuring out how to grow out-of-season berries sustainably and competitively will open up solutions for countless other fruits and vegetables.
“The selection of two University of Guelph-led research teams for the next phase of the Homegrown Challenge is a testament to the strength of University of Guelph research, particularly its innovative commitment to the development and implementation of cutting-edge new agri-food technologies. It speaks to our approach: controlled environment agriculture,” said Dr. Rene Van Acker, Interim Deputy Director (Research).
“Professors. Mr. Dixon and Mr. Zheng are long-standing leaders in this agri-food technology and will be an important part of a sustainable food system both locally and globally.”
Applying vertical farming lessons learned in space
Dixon and his team received $691,730 to develop a controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) system to manage strawberry production according to market demand and consumer preferences.
Dr. Mike Dixon's research group (Photo by Kathryn Hollinrake)
“Consumers experience seasonal fluctuations in the availability, price and quality of strawberries, as the Canadian market offers a wide range of production options, from domestic or imported fields to greenhouses, throughout the year. ” explains Dixon.
Their system is a hybrid production strategy that combines state-of-the-art greenhouse practices with vertical farming to increase overall productivity and stabilize the supply of both berries and plants.
“To stabilize these factors and reduce fluctuations in supply and quality, we propose to grow strawberries using the solutions we have developed for growing food in space,” Dixon said. Masu.
Special LED lighting is used to extend the growing season. By adjusting the intensity and spectrum of light, producers can enhance the strawberries' characteristics that consumers like, such as flavor and shelf life, he added.
The project team includes SES researchers Dr. Thomas Graham and Dr. Michael Stasiak, as well as experts from Mucci Farms, North America's largest controlled environment strawberry grower.
“My team brings valuable experience in how to successfully run controlled environment agriculture, and Mucci brings long-term experience growing strawberries in greenhouses,” says Dixon. “Together, we are developing year-round berry solutions that benefit growers and provide high-quality products that consumers love.”
AI saves water and eliminates pesticides
Zheng and his team received $999,918 to use artificial intelligence (AI) and smart automation to take the guesswork out of providing optimal growing conditions for berries.
Zheng's group uses biosensors to monitor plant health (Photo by Kathryn Hollinrake)
“Growing berries in a controlled environment requires balancing many interrelated parameters, including lighting, air humidity and temperature, dissolved oxygen in the root zone, water, and nutrients,” Zheng said. says. “When one factor changes, the others change too. We are beyond our ability to accurately and effectively manage the traditional greenhouse effect.”
Their system uses advanced biosensors to monitor plant health, measuring and tweaking parameters every few minutes to give the plant what it needs at that moment.
For example, excess moisture within the root zone can cause oxygen deficiency and promote the growth of pathogens. AI enables an integrated approach to fertilization management, establishing an ideal root zone for plant growth, saving water and fertilizer, and eliminating the need for pesticides, he said. say.
The system allows producers to better manage costs such as energy, water and nutrients, and minimizes wastewater and nutrient emissions.
“Reducing costs and growing high-quality, high-yield fruit means maximizing profits for growers,” says Zheng.
Zheng's team includes AI engineers from intelligent automation company Koidra, as well as horticulturists and engineers from Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Canada and Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
CEA technology goes beyond berries
Although berries are the focus of the challenge, competitors' solutions will also be evaluated on how they can be adapted to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Dixon says using CEA technology in harsh environments, such as the hot, dry climates of northern Canada and the Middle East, can address serious food security challenges.
CEA systems can also help protect the environment by reducing water usage, nutrient runoff, and CO2 emissions, while also providing an alternative to conventional agriculture in times of climate change, Zheng said. says Mr.
Although strawberries are the focus of this challenge, the solution could be applied to more fruits and vegetables (Photo by Kathryn Hollinrake)
About the Homegrown Innovation Challenge
The Homegrown Innovation Challenge encourages innovation in domestic fruit and vegetable production, particularly berries, to reduce Canada's dependence on imported agricultural products and build a more resilient food system.
“At the heart of this competition is the belief that collaboration and the integration of a wide range of expertise are the keys to solving complex challenges in agriculture,” said Garfield Mitchell, president of the Weston Family Foundation. “Our grantees bring original yet viable ideas to the table, and we look forward to seeing the innovations that emerge from their shared passion and collaboration. ”
Four teams will advance to the next stage of the challenge at the end of this year. Each will receive up to $5 million over three years to build a farm-scale market-ready system.
About the Weston Family Foundation
Founded more than 60 years ago, the Weston Family Foundation (formerly the W. Garfield Weston Foundation) focuses on the relationship between healthy landscapes and healthy aging. We champion world-class health research and innovation, as well as efforts to protect and restore biodiversity in Canada's unique landscapes. The Foundation takes a collaborative approach to philanthropy, working with partners to create lasting impact and transformative ways to improve the well-being of Canadians.