University of Guelph researchers have been honoured with prestigious federal awards from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) for research that has had exceptional benefits for Canada and Canadians alike.
The Synergy Awards for Innovation are annual awards that recognize examples of collaboration representing models of effective partnership between academic institutions and partner organizations. Winners receive a $200,000 research grant.
Drs. Mike Dixon, Youbin Zheng and Thomas Graham, Ontario Agricultural College
"Based on technology requirements for supporting human space exploration missions with reliable food production in such harsh environments as the Moon and Mars, our collaboration with Intravision Light Systems Canada has yielded innovative solutions in controlled environment agriculture uniquely suited to technology transfer to the Canadian agri-food industry sectors."
© Sylvie Li / Shoot StudioDrs. Mike Dixon, Thomas Graham and Youbin Zheng
Dixon and his team are helping to make food production more secure and sustainable. With fellow professors Youbin Zheng and Thomas Graham, and industry partner Intravision Light Systems Canada, the team has developed tools that enable efficient, high-yield farming in both urban centres and remote areas.
Their Photosystem Chambers , developed at U of G, are highly customized, controlled environments that simulate precise growing conditions which allow researchers to study plants and their interactions with their environment to ultimately improve crop yields. The team has integrated lessons learned in the chambers with Intravision's GravityFlow vertical farming system to create a fully automated, multi-layer, controlled environment platform where food and medicinal crops can be grown year-round, at a commercial scale, regardless of climate or geography.
Grounded in a collaborative partnership between the University and Intravision, the project supports training of highly qualified personnel and research staff, and facilitates technology transfer and adoption by the controlled environment agriculture and vertical farming industries.
Source: University of Guelph
