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 continues to be a successful venture for The Growcer, the company is now finding its business shifting to customers from more southern regions. That includes […] Read more
Canadian container farming system aims to grow markets
Growing indoors can help extend the production season for produce farmers
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 robotics system under development by the University of Guelph to automate some of the most labour intensive greenhouse tasks. Why it matters: As labour becomes […] 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 happens in the north and most consumption in the agricultural and urbanized south, which has created a complex water distribution network anchored by two main […] 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 storm water runoff, trees add tremendous value to our landscapes. Many municipalities have very active planting programs — it’s estimated, for example, that the City […] Read more
Guelph asparagus variety has transformed the Ontario sector
University of Guelph recognizes breeder Dave Wolyn’s work with Innovation of the Year honours
When a new asparagus variety was introduced in Ontario almost 20 years ago, no one, including its breeder, had any idea of the transformative impact it would have on an entire sector. Launched in 2000, Guelph Millennium marked not only the start of a new millennium — but also a new era for Ontario’s asparagus […] Read more
Nanotechnology breathing new life into existing crop protection products
A Canadian company creates ways that can help the products to be transported or work better
A University of Toronto graduate school project is now extending the life of widely used crop protection products. Vive Crop Protection’s trademarked Allosperse Delivery System uses nanotechnology to create new application methods for existing biological and conventional crop protection products. Why it matters: With few fully new chemicals coming to market, making existing products work […] Read more
Expanded focus gives agricultural research clusters more diversity
Automation, grape and wine, and small acreage field crops among new research funding
Five new research areas were added to the national research cluster program when it was launched last year by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Automation, grape and wine, diverse field crops, integrated crop agronomy and biomass were added to the existing cluster program. The cluster program started in 2008 under Growing Forward and was expanded under […] Read more
Online platform simplifies the local food supply chain
Local Line connects food buyers and sellers and is now helping with transportation logistics
If you’re a farmer selling products directly to consumers, restaurants or retail locations, an Ontario company believes it can simplify your process with an online platform. Local Line is an online selling platform for local food suppliers designed to help automate and streamline order fulfillment, inventory management and delivery. It started as a match-making service […] Read more
Locally designed mask offers better breathing on the farm
Farmers finding an Ontario-designed mask aimed at the Chinese market helpful
Agriculture wasn’t the target market when Peter Whitby and Richard Szasz first hit upon the idea of creating a better air filtration mask while on a trip to China. In fact, O2 Canada had it sights set firmly on Asia and its notoriously polluted air as the best place to make a difference in how […] Read more
Emerging potato varieties aim to put more pop into potato market
Federal government overhauling national potato research program to make it more responsive to industry
The latest potato varieties being evaluated for the Ontario market were on display at the University of Guelph’s Elora Research Station in late August for interested growers and industry representatives. The majority were from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada potato breeding program in Fredericton, which annually provides cultivars with potential for Ontario’s climate and growing […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
