Controlled environment agriculture research and development, including measurement of plant growth, gas exchange, volatile organic compound (VOC) evolution and nutrient remediation
The Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF)’s Advanced Life Support program is renowned internationally. It boasts strong partnerships, research collaborations and memorandums of understanding with several space agencies and numerous industries and academic institutions globally.
Canadian investments in sealed environment chamber signature technologies are being utilized globally in the United States, Europe, Spain and Kuwait. Recent advancements in LED, ion-sensor and imaging technologies combined with the development of environmental control parameters (plant/species specific algorithms) have become a driving force for technology transfer and licensing opportunities in areas of phyto-pharmaceutical production, plant genome breeding and prototype large-scale food production systems.
The requirements for Technology Readiness Levels in space spill into terrestrial applications, giving Canadian greenhouse operators access to cutting-edge technologies that off-set labour and energy costs and promote environmental sustainability. Projects such as AgNorth will provide socio-economic benefits, education and job sustainability, decreasing dependency on Canada’s $85 million per year subsidies (e.g. Nutrition North).
Plant growth and productivity studies, environment sensor prototype development and testing, controlled environment hardware development, assessment of various plant products (chemical, biological, mechanical) under controlled conditions
- Aerospace and satellites
- Agriculture, animal science and food
- Education
- Environmental technologies and related services
- Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
Specialized labs and equipment
| Specialized lab | Equipment | Function |
|---|---|---|
| CESRF | Five 4.0 m3 hypobaric chambers with 1.5 m2 plant growing area | Precision plant canopy scale determination of photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration |
| Nine 0.3 m3 cylindrical hypobaric chambers | Short-term assessment of plant productivity and photosynthesis under multi-spectral LED lighting | |
| Two 5 m2 whole canopy plant growth chambers | Large scale walk-in growth chambers for plant growth and photosynthesis research | |
| Two PS1000 plant growth chambers | Whole plant photosynthesis and transpiration assessment | |
| Sensor Lab | Various electronic and computer systems; soldering station, drill press, hand tools, psychrometers, thermal imaging camera, spectrometer | Sensor and electronics design/test/repair lab |
| Microbiology Lab | Laminar flow hood, fume hood, water bath, stir plates, BLItz, Steris autoclave | Off-line microbiological support for plant growth studies |
| Analytical Lab | Dual column HPLC with conductivity detectors, GC/FID fume hood (x2) | Off-line support for plant growth studies Analysis of nutrient feed solutions |
| Foliar Analysis Lab | Balances, LICOR LI 3100C Leaf Area Meter. | Wet lab designated for planting and harvest |
| Systems Control Lab | Argus Control Systems | Computer and automated control systems for greenhouses |
Private and public sector research partners
- TCA Technologies Inc
- We The Roots
- Intravision Lighting Systems
- Environize
- Connon Nurseries AVK
- Gossling Research Institute for Plant Preservation
- Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
- Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE)
- COM DEV Ltd.
- Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS)
- European Space Agency - European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESA-ESTEC)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)
- Flowers Canada ON
- Root Rescue Environmental Products Ltd.
- ICT International PTY Ltd.
- University of Ghent
- University of Naples
- University of Beijing
- EnginSoft Ltd.
- Intravision Group AS Pty
- Syngenta Biotechnology Inc.
- Syngenta Crop Protection LLC
- Nedlaw Living Walls Inc.
- PlantForm Corporation
- Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V (German Aerospace Center)
- VIVO Cannabis | ABcann Medicinals Inc.
- Tersano Inc.
- First the Seed Foundation
- Stokes Seeds Ltd.
- Let’s Talk Science
- Heinz Seed (US)
Additional information
| Title | URL |
|---|---|
| Food for the Red Planet | http://www.labbusinessmag.com/currentissue/coverstory.html |
| Out of this world | http://www.greenhousecanada.com/content/view/2693/63/ |
| Space Tech that feeds high-end diners in Toronto could help Canada’s North | https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/space-food-technology-led-1.4945788 |
| The Nature of Invention: Mars | https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1382933571537 |
| The Automatic Farm | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/rob-magazine/article-the-automatic-farm/ |
| Going to extremes for science | https://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/8004781-going-to-extremes-for-science/ |
| How space technology will provide the best weed ever | https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/8q85qk/how-space-technology-will-produce-the-best-weed-marijuana-cannabis-pot |
| EDEN-ISS Growing food for space exploration | http://www.ces.uoguelph.ca/news/EDEN_ISS_PressRelease_2015_03_30.pdf |