An Ontario company has developed a biodegradable organic sanitizer specifically to eliminate microbes on dry foods like seeds, nuts, and powders. Foods treated with Neo-Pure are now sold in major grocers across North America, including Loblaw, Whole Foods, Costco and Trader Joe’s — and new technology for treating wheat flour is in the pipeline. “Most […] Read more
Made-in-Ontario food safety treatment for dry foods now used across North America
Product helps reduce food safety issues on foods that can’t be otherwise sanitized before consumption
Solving spray problems with new technology
Sprayer innovations can help reduce herbicide resistance by making sure lethal doses are delivered to weeds
How farmers spray their crops — not just what they spray — could be contributing to growing weed resistance across Canada. Technology is emerging, though, that can help overcome common spraying challenges. That’s according to Tom Wolf, President of Agrimetrix Research and Training, a Saskatoon-based company that specializes in spray application. Why it matters: Smart […] Read more
Lessons from developing a new Ontario crop
Tiger nuts can be made into dairy alternatives, but oils, proteins and starches can be extracted as well
It’s been a long time coming, but Andrea Orazi is thrilled that her frozen dessert is now available in more than 200 Eastern Canada Loblaw stores. The locally produced ice cream-style product is made from tiger nuts — a crop that isn’t actually a nut but could present a new market opportunity for enterprising Ontario […] Read more
Evaluating mechanical weed control options
Researchers found that when two methods are used, weed control improves
With the rise of herbicide resistant weeds, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are looking into alternative weed control methods focused on in-crop mechanical tools to give growers new management options. Why it matters: Farmers are looking for alternative solutions to deal with herbicide resistant weeds that are becoming tougher to control and are affecting […] Read more
Weed survival can be predicted via imagery
Researchers using imagery to predict viability of Palmer amaranth
Researchers are putting imaging technology to work to improve weed management practices. Maor Matzrafi of the department of Plant Sciences at the University of California, Davis, has been evaluating the use of hyperspectral imaging technology to assess germination and herbicide response in Palmer amaranth. Why it matters: Weed resistance to glyphosate, a broad spectrum herbicide, […] Read more
Certification programs create need for more farm data
Transparency certification can help assure farmers about data usage
AgSights, the producer-owned Ontario co-operative behind the Go360 bioTrack livestock tracking system, has achieved Ag Data Transparent certification. It’s the third organization in Canada to be awarded this designation, which means the organization is open and transparent about its data policies. Why it matters: Increasing amounts of data are being collected on farms across Canada […] Read more
Online sales can help drive specialty crop products
Camelina is being tested in Ontario to see if it works in crop rotations here
More often than not, the first instinct of consumers today is to head online when they’re looking to buy something. That’s less the case when it comes to the traditional agricultural market of inputs and supplies. And it certainly wasn’t on Jack Grushcow’s mind when his company, Linneaus Plant Sciences Inc., first discovered somewhat by […] Read more
Probiotic wins University of Guelph innovation of year award
The biopeptide technology reduces spread of harmful bacteria in livestock, and could have human uses
Ground-breaking work using probiotics to reduce the spread of harmful bacteria in livestock has been selected as the University of Guelph’s 2018 Innovation of the Year. The innovative biopeptide technology is the culmination of 15 years of research led by Guelph food science professor emeritus Mansel Griffiths and is now being commercialized by MicroSintesis Inc. […] Read more
Agricultural innovation incubators get another year of funding
Bioenterprise invests in early-stage businesses, especially in agriculture and food
Two innovation incubators have received additional funding to support early-stage businesses and entrepreneurs and especially those in agriculture and food. Bioenterprise Corporation and its delivery partner Innovation Guelph were awarded $2.28 million by FedDev Ontario to deliver the Bioenterprise Seed Fund and Innovation Guelph’s Fuel Injection program which provides seed funding and access for specialized […] Read more
New table grape varieties for Ontario could diversify market
Ontario growers have only had one main short-season variety to grow
There’s lots of unrealized potential in the table grape market in Ontario, as one variety has dominated production. That’s about to change. Ontario’s main homegrown fresh table grape is a variety called Sovereign Coronation, a semi-seedless blue grape that’s ready for market over a six- to eight-week period in late summer and early fall. Driven […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
