Vineland Research announces new Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre

Canadian agricultural producers are responding to global demand for effective and reliable supplies of food. The funding announced June 3 will help strengthen Canada’s position in global food supply. FedDev Ontario funding will support the fit up of the new Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre, a state-of-the-art facility, which brings together research institutions, business and academia to research, develop and commercialize new technology solutions in the robotics, automation and greenhouse industries. This will help improve Ontario’s competitiveness and increase domestic production of vegetables in the greenhouse sector.

 

The contribution will also go toward the development of four new innovative greenhouse technologies and will help bring to market an additional three automated systems. Some of the technologies supported through FedDev Ontario’s contribution, including a mushroom harvester and wireless irrigation system, were showcased during the event. These innovations will help reduce labour and production costs, while producing safe and healthy foods in a controlled enviornment. 

“This funding will increase the capacity of Ontario’s emerging innovation strength in greenhouse horticulture technologies. The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre’s new Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre is uniquely positioned at the junction of the greenhouse horticulture and advanced engineering sectors to drive growth and we are thankful for FedDev Ontario’s support to meet this challenge," said Jim Brandle, CEO, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.

 

FedDev Ontario’s non-repayable contribution of up to $5.76 million, toward a total project cost of $13,326,764, is provided through the Investing in Commercialization Partnerships initiative.

 

The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre expects to create 125 full-time equivalent jobs over the course of the project.