Biochar has been proven to be beneficial to agricultural operations by capturing nutrients in the soil and providing these nutrients back to the crops. Before biochar is to be used successfully as a soilless greenhouse media enhancement, its blend rate must first be determined, and this is why Walker tapped into HESIC’s expertise to help investigate this innovation challenge.
Success Stories
Evaluating the effects of biochar-amended media on fertilization and growth of basil and gerberas in a greenhouse setting
Before biochar is to be used successfully as a soilless greenhouse media enhancement, its blend rate must first be determined, and this is why Walker tapped into HESIC’s expertise to help investigate this innovation challenge.
The future of automation: Building a mushroom harvesting virtual environment
Sinopa Energy Inc. partnered with Agriculture at UWindsor to develop the model to simulate the current state in the mushroom farm, investigate a potential future fully automated state, and collaborative scenarios.
Assessing the performance of a novel climate optimization software in commercial Ontario floral and cucumber greenhouses
The novel climate optimization software developed by 360 Energy Inc. utilizes the data generated from the climate control system that is currently installed within the greenhouse. A collaborative research project between HESIC and 360 Energy Inc. involved two participating commercial greenhouses that systematically evaluated this proprietary software. Read more to learn about the team’s solution.
Market research gives Niagara greenhouse company confidence to launch successful new product
Although relationships exist in the greenhouse building market, GGS requires market research to understand the feasibility of this market and the steps to take to enter it. They turned to Niagara College’s Business & Commercialization Innovation Centre team to identify their key markets.
Using research to advance understanding of a novel soil amendment from a Canadian small business
IZC wanted to understand zeolite-based NEREA® substrate with respect to labour, economics and plant growth. They turned to Niagara College to compare the growth of basil with NEREA® as an amendment through a course-based project.
Evaluating a novel indoor compost product as an organic fertilizer to grow diverse crops in a greenhouse
The objective of Phase 1 of this project was to evaluate the potential of the product of VCycene’s intelligent composting device to be classified as a mature compost, as per the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment‘s (CCME) Guidelines for Compost Quality. Niagara College’s Horticultural & Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre (HESIC) team generated, and subsequently evaluated, product from alpha versions of VCycene’s composting device.
Boosting efficiency in plant growth through hydroponic media substitute
Challenge: Business needed to understand the extent to which nutrient levels may be reduced in leachate from NEREA® media blends Solution: Research trials conducted using blends of peat moss, NEREA® and raw zeolite and examined nutrient content in leachate for basil plants Impact: Data from research helps business make important…
Market research lays the foundation for promoting new vermichar and biochar products
To understand how Terra Optima Labs can best position themselves in the market, Niagara College’s Business & Commercialization Innovation Centre completed secondary research to uncover key insights of the horticulture and greenhouse industry.
Diverting liquid bio digestate from waste and turning it into a consumer product
The team members at Bayview are proud to grow plants using innovative and environmentally sustainable methods. They continuously develop business practices and utilize new technologies that help reduce/re-use waste while generating renewable energy. It’s for these reasons that they reached out to Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) to discuss their latest innovation challenge.