WHAT IS THE GTN?

GTN is the Greenhouse Technology Network.

GTN is a network of research-focused centres that collaborate with small- and medium-sized organizations to advance the development, adoption, and implementation of technologies to support the greenhouse industry.

GTN leverages researchers, faculty, students, and state-of-the-market facilities and equipment, together with funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, to support greenhouse and related technology businesses.

OUR MISSION:

GROWING INNOVATION FOR ONTARIO’S GREENHOUSE INDUSTRY

OUR FUNDER

OUR TEAM

Rita Sterne, PhD (Mgmt)
Manager
Greenhouse Technology Network

Rita Sterne is the Project Manager for the Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN), a Niagara College-led consortium of academic research institutions supporting the research needs of greenhouse and related technology businesses through applied projects. Rita is responsible for recruitment and outreach as well as day-to-day operations of the network.

Rita has managed businesses and research labs and has applied her management knowledge as a business strategy consultant to small businesses and social enterprises. She earned her MBA and PhD (Mgmt) from the University of Guelph. She was introduced to the greenhouse industry as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 2017 where she researched value creation opportunities from the adoption of robotics in Ontario’s vegetable greenhouses.

OUR MEMBERS

Horticultural & Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre, Niagara College

Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-lake, Ontario

With growing environmental and ecological pressures, Niagara College’s Horticultural & Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre team works with private and public sector partners to develop innovative solutions to address today’s challenges in precision agriculture, GIS, computer programming, sustainable food production, plant growth, horticultural practices, greenhouse operations, aquaponics, environmental management and renewable energies.

Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility, University of Guelph

Guelph, Ontario

The Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) and its Space and Advanced Life Support Agriculture program are an essential part of Canada’s contributions to plant research and development for space and closed environment related activities. The CESRF provides a complete research venue suitable for measurement of plant growth, gas exchange, volatile organic compound (VOC) evolution, and nutrient remediation in a precisely controlled environment. The facility is comprised of 24 sealed environment chambers including 14 variable pressure plant growth hypobaric chambers capable of sustaining a vacuum. CESRF’s personnel have extensive experience in the fields of plant physiology, environment analysis and sensor technology.

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

Vineland, Ontario

The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is a uniquely Canadian results-oriented organization dedicated to horticulture science and innovation and to improving the economic viability, sustainability and competitiveness of horticulture in Canada. Vineland delivers innovative products, solutions and services through an integrated and collaborative cross-country network to advance Canada’s research and commercialization agenda.

Brock University

St. Catharines, Ontario

With over 600 outstanding faculty researchers engaged in world-class research and innovations across many disciplines, Brock University offers innovative technologies, opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, and unique services. Brock includes strong expertise within greenhouse technology, such as, environmental sustainability in agriculture, plant and fungi science, data science and analytics, Internet of Things, engineering, business management, and more. Brock houses over 300-sq feet of sophisticated temperature and humidity-controlled research greenhouse and plant transformation facilities. In addition, Brock’s Validation Prototyping and Manufacturing Institute (VPMI) is a landmark facility aimed at making Niagara a research and innovation leader in bioagriculture, bioscience and chemical manufacturing sectors.

University of Windsor

Windsor, Ontario

Agriculture at University of Windsor AgUWin is the recently launched agriculture initiative from the University of Windsor. This initiative supports the basic and applied research to support the Canadian greenhouse sector. AgUWin has partnered with Horteca, a joint venture between JEM Farms, a major greenhouse operator in Essex County and Ecoation, a multi-national agriculture technology solutions provider, headquartered in Essex County, to operationalize 2 acres of active research and development greenhouse space in Ruthven, Ontario into the AgUWin Innovation Greenhouse. This space will further support the research and development of commercially viable research and technology in a live environment and enable experiential learning opportunities for students.

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