Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Guelph
$162,611.00
Controlled environment production of high-value medicinal plants and fungi
FY 2023-24
Summary
In almost 40 years of international novel drug discovery, 65% of new therapeutics have been either naturally derived or are synthetic variations of natural products, and the global herbal medicine market is expected to exceed US$ 411 billion by 2026. Many herbal products and remedies are still relatively unknown in modern medicine and are of limited availability due to small-scale production or natural harvesting to the potential point of extinction. As the technology and efficiency of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) improves, the potential for high-value medicinal crop production under controlled environment condition indoors is promising.Using high fidelity environment control, including LED sourced spectral quality recipes, we are investigating the relationship between the quality of the photosynthetic energy sources and plant nutrient uptake. The results will ultimately be assessed in terms of the secondary metabolite profiling and relative concentrations of medicinal compounds of commercial and medical interest in the selected medicinal plant species selected. Our industry partner has targeted four herbaceous plant species and one fungus (mushroom) for further evaluation to determine suitability towards CEA production under optimized conditions (Anoectochilu formosanus, Dendrobium huoshanense, Crocus sativus, Mentha spp., and Ganoderma lucidum).The overall objective of this project is to assess the suitability of CEA towards enhanced production of the selected candidate plant species, and to investigate their physiological responses to the micro-environment (light quality and intensity, carbon dioxide assimilation and nutrient uptake) throughout the different growth stages. This information will elucidate a better understanding to improve growth consistency and economic productivity leading to a niche filed for Canadian CEA medicinal plant production.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
577615-2022
Name nom
Dixon, Michael MA
Department département
Environmental Sciences, School of
Organization id
24
Institution établissement
University of Guelph
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2023
Competition year année de concours
2022
Award amount
162611
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
103
Area of application group en
Agriculture and primary food production
Area of application group fr
Agriculture et produits alimentaires primaires
Area of application en
Plant production and plant primary products
Area of application fr
Production végétale et produits végétaux primaires
Research subject code
4901
Research subject group en
Plant and treebiology
Research subject group fr
Nutrition and metabolism, photosynthesis
Research subject en
Biologie végétale et des arbres
Research subject fr
Nutrition et métabolisme, photosynthèse
Application title
Controlled environment production of high-value medicinal plants and fungi
Keyword
Controlled Environment Agriculture; High-value medicinal crop production; LEDs, spectral quality, intensity; Naturopathic medicine; Photosynthetic energy; Plant environment variables; Plant medicinal compounds; Plant nutrient uptake; Plant physiological responses; Secondary metabolite profiles
Application summary
In almost 40 years of international novel drug discovery, 65% of new therapeutics have been either naturally derived or are synthetic variations of natural products, and the global herbal medicine market is expected to exceed US$ 411 billion by 2026. Many herbal products and remedies are still relatively unknown in modern medicine and are of limited availability due to small-scale production or natural harvesting to the potential point of extinction. As the technology and efficiency of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) improves, the potential for high-value medicinal crop production under controlled environment condition indoors is promising.Using high fidelity environment control, including LED sourced spectral quality recipes, we are investigating the relationship between the quality of the photosynthetic energy sources and plant nutrient uptake. The results will ultimately be assessed in terms of the secondary metabolite profiling and relative concentrations of medicinal compounds of commercial and medical interest in the selected medicinal plant species selected. Our industry partner has targeted four herbaceous plant species and one fungus (mushroom) for further evaluation to determine suitability towards CEA production under optimized conditions (Anoectochilu formosanus, Dendrobium huoshanense, Crocus sativus, Mentha spp., and Ganoderma lucidum).The overall objective of this project is to assess the suitability of CEA towards enhanced production of the selected candidate plant species, and to investigate their physiological responses to the micro-environment (light quality and intensity, carbon dioxide assimilation and nutrient uptake) throughout the different growth stages. This information will elucidate a better understanding to improve growth consistency and economic productivity leading to a niche filed for Canadian CEA medicinal plant production.
