The University of Toronto Scarborough's (UTSC) partnership with Canadian agtech company Harvest Today is beginning to bear fruit — both literally and academically. Following the donation of four Harvest Walls to the university's Environmental Science and Chemistry Building, faculty and students are now actively incorporating the indoor growing systems into research, teaching, and sustainability initiatives.
"Faculty and students have responded with enthusiasm and curiosity," says Feihan Fay Dai, Strategic Research Development Officer at UTSC. "Compared to traditional systems, the Harvest Walls are more accessible, visually engaging, and well-suited for interdisciplinary collaboration across plant biology, sustainability, and food studies."
© @utscresearch on Instagram
Students using Harvest Walls in the Greenhouse facilities at the University of Toronto Scarborough
From classroom concept to hands-on experimentation
Installed in UTSC's greenhouse facilities and managed by horticulturist Andrew Cline, the modular plant wall systems are designed for year-round cultivation in controlled environments. According to the university, researchers are already exploring topics ranging from nutrient optimization to food systems education.
"The Harvest Walls have sparked early-stage research in plant growth and nutrient optimization," Dai explains. "They've also been incorporated into student-led sustainability initiatives. Faculty are exploring ways to embed them into experiential learning components in upcoming courses."
For Harvest Today, these early applications demonstrate how vertical growing platforms can serve not only food production, but also education and research into urban agriculture. "We've identified the need for culturally appropriate recipes that people will need to follow in order to achieve the yields they need for their meals grown off the Harvest Walls," says William Aitken, Director at Harvest Today. "One of the pillars of our research is food culture."
© Jenefer Savoeung
Horticulturist Andrew Cline tending Harvest Walls in U of T Scarborough greenhouse
Supporting collaboration through design
The donation was facilitated by the Office of the Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation, with support from Harvest Today's technology partner, SpectraGrow, which contributed tailored lighting solutions to optimize the growing setup.
"SpectraGrow generously donated the lights," Aitken explains. "Their team provided layout and lighting expertise to ensure proper uniformity for plant growth. This has now led to a mutually beneficial relationship for both SpectraGrow and U of T Scarborough."
Harvest Today designed the walls with mobility and modularity in mind, including castors (small wheels that allow the walls to be moved without disassembly) for easy relocation within campus facilities. "We wanted to provide the best piece of grow equipment for the students to use," Aitken says. "That flexibility is crucial in an academic environment."
© Jenefer Savoeung
Each Harvest Wall unit features angled grow ports and a soil-less Vertigation™ system that delivers nutrients directly to plant roots, supporting efficient, pesticide-free cultivation
Research insights from real-world use
While the partnership is still in its early stages, the system is already yielding operational insights. "When researchers use the system, we gain invaluable feedback on features and functions that we may not have considered," says Aitken. "Being able to have an open conversation with the team at U of T Scarborough has created a seamless relationship between the two organizations."
According to Dai, discussions are already underway to explore a deeper institutional partnership and potential collaborations with other universities. "We see strong potential to deepen both research and community engagement through this collaboration," she notes.
© Jenefer Savoeung
Peppers, cucumbers, and other crops thrive in the Harvest Wall system, offering researchers a living lab to observe plant development, nutrient response, and growing conditions in real time
Toward accessible sustainability education
As vertical farming systems continue to evolve, both partners see this project as a model for how modular systems can make sustainability education more tangible and inclusive.
"This collaboration demonstrates that modular vertical farming systems like the Harvest Wall can make sustainability education more tangible and inclusive," Dai says. "By lowering barriers to hands-on experimentation, they open new opportunities for global learning and innovation."
For more information: 
University of Toronto Scarborough
Feihan Fay Dai, Strategic Research Development Officer
Office of the Vice-Principal Research & Innovation
www.utsc.utoronto.ca
For more information:
Harvest Today Canada
William Aitken, Director
www.harvest.today