Niagara opens new Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre
June 3, 2016
By Manufacturing AUTOMATION
FedDev Ontario announces $5.76M investment at grand opening
Jun. 3, 2016 – During the grand opening of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre’s new Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre, Vance Badawey, MP for Niagara Centre, and Chris Bittle, MP for St. Catharines, announced a Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) investment of up to $5.76 million in the centre to help develop and commercialize horticultural and greenhouse technologies.
The agency says the funding will strengthen Canada’s position in global food supply, while helping to bring together research institutions, business and academia to “research, develop and commercialize new technology solutions in the robotics, automation and greenhouse industries.”
According to a statement from the agency, the contribution will also go towards the development of four new “innovative greenhouse technologies” and will help bring to market an additional three automated systems. Some of the technologies supported through FedDev Ontario’s contribution, including a mushroom harvester and wireless irrigation system, were showcased during the event, it noted, adding that these innovations will help “reduce labour and production costs, while producing safe and healthy foods in a controlled environment.”
“This funding will increase the capacity of Ontario’s emerging innovation strength in greenhouse horticulture technologies. The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre’s new Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre is uniquely positioned at the junction of the greenhouse horticulture and advanced engineering sectors to drive growth and we are thankful for FedDev Ontario’s support to meet this challenge,” said Jim Brandle, CEO, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.
The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre expects to create 125 full-time equivalent jobs over the course of the project.
“The Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre provides a world-class facility for researchers and industry leaders to come together to find innovative solutions to strengthen both the manufacturing and the greenhouse sectors. This is what creates opportunities for southern Ontario, including building skills and creating high-quality jobs,” said Bittle.
