A southwestern Ontario company has developed technology that goes far beyond traditional soil sampling to help growers make better soil management decisions. Tavistock-based SoilOptix’s system delivers high resolution top soil […] Read more
Raising the bar on soil testing
SoilOptix maps show soil’s chemical and physical properties
Mushroom waste shown to provide extended food and drink shelf life
Canadian company is using a part of the mushroom that often is discarded, creating value for mushroom growers
A waste product from the mushroom industry is being put to use as a natural shelf-life extender for processed food products. New Brunswick-based food technology company Chinova Bioworks is using […] Read more
Making better spraying decisions with low-cost, early fungal disease detection
Spornado is being tested across Canada, especially in higher value vegetable crops
It was a call from a client looking for a low-tech method for early detection of a fungal disease in potatoes that charted a new course for Toronto microbiology lab […] Read more
Federally licensed university abattoir upgraded
University of Guelph abattoir helps small research projects get processed
The University of Guelph is home to the only federally licensed university abattoir in Canada. The almost 50-year-old facility recently underwent a $2.5 million overhaul, re-opening last year as a […] Read more
Robot automates hard-to-fill jobs in agriculture and turf
The RomeIO robot is being tested in many uses in agriculture where labour is scarce
A local start-up has developed a compact, rugged autonomous robot that can automate a wide range of agricultural tasks, like soil sensing, applying inputs, and harvest yield prediction for grapes. […] Read more
From bugs to vaccines, genomics to biopesticides
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s London research station touches farms from crops to livestock
Tucked away in a quiet residential neighbourhood in London, Ont., is a building where researchers delve into some of agriculture’s most pressing issues. The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) London […] Read more
Canadian container farming system aims to grow markets
Growing indoors can help extend the production season for produce farmers
Updated Jan. 6, 2020 A container farming start-up from Ottawa launched into the Canadian market several years ago by bringing year-round fresh produce production to northern communities. And although that […] Read more
Plant-disease-detecting robot created at University of Guelph
Finding disease symptoms before humans can see them could put an early stop to spread
A smart robot with disease detection, plant monitoring and labour-saving capabilities is in the works for Ontario’s greenhouse vegetable sector. The Guelph Intelligent Greenhouse Automation System (GIGAS) is an integrated […] Read more
Managing water for farming on a large scale
California’s most recent drought has pushed farmers to become more water-use efficient
The drought may be over but water continues to be a top-of-mind issue in California — particularly for its US$50 billion a year agriculture sector. Most of the state’s rainfall […] Read more
Growing trees that last
Ontario innovation helps with costly problem for municipalities and growers
There is no denying the benefits of planting trees. From giving off oxygen we need to breathe and providing shade and habitat, to beautification, reducing erosion and pollution, and minimizing […] Read more