Challenge: Understand if the weight of a new soil amendment will impact shipping and handling of plants Solution: Developed multiple blend ratios of growing media and evaluated the dry and wet weights of potted plants Impact: Support commercialization of greenhouse-related technologies, impacts on growing and supply chains must be considered…
Quick Plug wanted to produce a novel formulation of solid plug media applicable to several different crops, which would effectively reduce time to root emergence, ‘rooting’, without compromising plant health. Quick Plug turned to Niagara College’s Horticultural & Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre (HESIC) to conduct growing trials to evaluate two of their novel formulations.
MetaFLO Technologies (“MetaFLO”) is a Mississauga-based company that markets and distributes chemical reagents with application potential in a variety of industries, including the agricultural sector. The company is in the process of expanding its portfolio to include a new reagent: an algae-based, organic polymer formulated for use as a biostimulant.
Intravision Light Systems, a leading provider of high-fidelity controlled environment and LED lighting systems, partnered with University of Guelph’s Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) to develop new knowledge and methodologies to optimize the production of fodder crops in controlled environments.
Ontario-based AgricUltra Advancements has developed a turn-key solution for vertical farming: a self-contained unit controlling every aspect of production from water and nutrients to heat, humidity and run-off… Through the Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN), AgricUltra has teamed up with Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to develop a prototype cradle that brings this technology to indoor vertical farming.
360 Energy has been working on a secure cloud-based software that can collect energy-related data directly from greenhouse control systems. David Arkell, President and CEO of 360 Energy, turned to Niagara College’s Horticultural & Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre (HESIC) team to determine how to make the software appealing to greenhouse growers worldwide.
A Toronto-based mining company, International Zeolite Inc., has been working to build a North American market for its environmentally friendly NEREA® product. The technology directly embeds nutrients in the honeycomb-like zeolite mineral, making it absorbent.
Biotechnology company Plantaform Technology Inc. has a solution for budding home indoor gardeners – a prototype microgarden pod that will allow consumers to easily grow a variety of herbs and leafy green vegetables even in a small living space.
Agricultural company Northern Hemp Specialists Ltd. works with clients on finding organic solutions for growth and pathogen resistance for all plants, trees, ornamental flowers and even vineyards. More recently, they’ve found a customer base from medical and recreational cannabis growers, a sector that requires chemical and solvent-free organic soil products.
Zeolite is one of nature’s more multifaceted minerals. With its microporous honeycomb structure, the volcanic mineral acts as both a natural filter used in water and air purification and an absorbent utilized by the agriculture industry to modulate water and nutrients…
