The federal government is providing up to $894,673 to a Calgary clean-technology company to develop and test a lighting system designed to reduce electricity use in indoor agriculture.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald announced the funding during a recent visit to Hydragreens Produce Ltd. in Calgary. The funding is being provided to SmartGRO Bioengineering Inc. through the Agricultural Clean Technology Program’s Research and Innovation Stream.
The investment is part of the recently announced $3.2-billion National Food Security Strategy, which includes $750 million dedicated to controlled-environment agriculture. The federal government says the funding will help SmartGRO develop and test technology intended to make year-round indoor agriculture more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
SmartGRO, a Calgary-based start-up, is developing a lighting system that combines ultra-fast pulsing LED lights with plant sensors and artificial intelligence.
The sensors collect information on plants, including temperature, health and growth. The artificial intelligence system then adjusts the lighting based on the plants’ needs.
The company says the lights differ from conventional LED systems because they switch on and off very quickly rather than remaining continuously illuminated. Controlled tests showed plants grown under SmartGRO’s lights produced the same harvest weight as plants grown under regular LED lights while using up to 80 per cent less electricity.
The technology is intended to allow growers to produce more food while using less electricity, potentially lowering operating costs and reducing environmental impacts associated with year-round food production.
“Canadian agri-businesses are leading the way in creating innovative solutions to reduce emissions and build a more resilient agricultural sector. With support from the ACT – Research and Innovation Stream, SmartGRO can develop new technology that has the potential to help Canadian farmers grow more food while using less electricity. By making indoor agriculture more efficient and sustainable, this innovation can help reduce costs and environmental impacts, while strengthening year-round food production across Canada,” said MacDonald.
SmartGRO chief executive officer and co-founder Jared Wolfe said the funding will be used to test the technology at commercial scale.
“Canada has the talent and technology to lead the next generation of controlled-environment agriculture. This support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will help SmartGRO validate at commercial scale a patent-pending, Canadian-developed lighting and intelligent control platform designed to help growers produce more food, year-round, using dramatically less electricity,” said Wolfe.
Hydragreens Produce is hosting SmartGRO’s commercial-scale trials at its Calgary greenhouse and is investing $916,197 toward the project, according to the federal government.
The collaboration is focused on product demonstration, validation and prospective adoption by large customers.
“We’re excited to partner with SmartGRO to test this advanced technology under real-world commercial growing conditions. Improving energy efficiency is essential to the future of indoor agriculture, and innovations like this can help growers reduce costs, increase productivity, and make year-round food production in Canada more sustainable. We’re proud to support its developmen,” said Marc Schulz, President, Hydragreens Produce Ltd.
SmartGRO is also working with the University of Windsor, Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, Lambton College, H&A Mastronardi Farms and Freeman Herbs to help validate its lighting technology.
The National Food Security Strategy is a 10-year, $3.2-billion federal investment intended to open the market for independent retailers, increase domestic food production and build a stronger and more affordable food system, according to the government.
The strategy includes $750 million for expanding year-round Canadian production of fruits and vegetables through greenhouses, vertical farms and other enclosed growing spaces.
The Agricultural Clean Technology Program provides funding to farmers and agri-businesses to develop and adopt clean technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving long-term competitiveness.
The program focuses on three areas: green energy and energy efficiency, precision agriculture, and bioeconomy solutions.
The government said 535 projects have been announced through the program to date, representing up to more than $314 million in funding across Canada.
More from Retail Insider:
