Eleven teams take up challenge to revolutionize food production in Canada.

“If we listen to plants, we can change the world!” says botanist Lesley Campbell, PhD, describing part of the inspiration behind the raspberry growing system she is developing with her partner, mechanical engineer Habiba Bougherara, PhD, at Toronto Metropolitan University.  

Entrepreneurs, researchers, communities and a patron of the arts: a synergy that pushes innovative projects to unexpected heights.

In the middle of January, fans of local produce are often at a loss when it comes to eating fruit. Some may have stocked up on berries in the freezer, while others will be eating fresh local apples still on the shelves. Many will opt for home-grown, greenhouse-produced strawberries. But is this an ecological choice? A team of researchers at the University of Ottawa is working on a new, less energy-intensive hydroponic fruit-growing model.

Canadians love strawberries – they are the second most imported fruit in Canada, representing approximately $750M in retail value. Yet Canadian strawberry production has remained stagnant over the past two decades, largely due to climate challenges that inhibit year-round production.

Recognizing this issue, a team of scientists and private sector partners, led by Associate Professor Allyson MacLean from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Science, is set to revolutionize strawberry production in Canada.  

Velocity company Ceragen helps make the impossible possible to boost food security.

Ceragen, a company at Velocity, University of Waterloo’s startup incubator, has developed probiotics for plants to improve crop yields by up to 20 per cent, and the company is participating in the Homegrown Innovation Challenge, a research challenge funded by the Weston Family Foundation. The challenge aims to increase Canadian food security by increasing produce growth domestically. Ceragen’s project group just received $1 million to optimize several aspects of domestic indoor strawberry production, including preserving the summer-quality strawberry taste.

RAIN is part of a team that has been awarded $1 million to launch its study.

Collège Boréal, a higher education institution based in northern Ontario, is breaking new ground in Arctic agriculture. Thanks to a generous $1 million grant from the Weston Family Foundation, the college is spearheading a pioneering project to grow more food in the harsh climate of northern Ontario, using a hydroponic approach. This revolutionary initiative is set to redefine the boundaries of agricultural possibilities, marking a significant stride towards food sustainability in extreme climates.

The goal is to reduce B.C.’s dependence on imported fruit during the colder months.

Project will help test equipment that could extend northern Ontario’s growing season

A big coup for the researchers at College Boreal this week as the Weston family foundation announced a $1 million grant for the college and its partners.