Grant: Engage Grants Program
University of Prince Edward Island
$25,000.00
New Substrate Waste Management Strategy
FY 2018-19
Summary
TruLeaf operates vertical farming for healthier food production. Current media preparation and seeding process consists of 5 steps using an artificial soil (peat) substrate. The currently used substrate also poses and contamination risk to the final product. It also adds complexity to the water management system by introducing small fibers that require filtration. The substrate needs to be available to ship worldwide with ease or purchased locally at any Goodleaf farm operation. The new substrate are being investigated with treatments that includes use of bark, straw, cellulose, biochar and hydrofiber. The objective of the proposed project is to determine the uses of substrates after growing cycle specially focusing on turning into slurry or biochar that can be recycled into the growing process. The work will also be carried out to investigate the biogas production potential of the waste and potential use of digested in farming. The work will investigate the overall sustainability of the process.
Program
Engage Grants Program
Recipient
Location
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
535817-2018
Name nom
Acharya, Bishnu
Department département
Engineering
Organization id
88
Institution établissement
University of Prince Edward Island
Province en
Prince Edward Island
Province fr
Ile-du-Prince-Édouard
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2018
Competition year année de concours
2018
Award amount
25000
Program id
EGP
Program name en
Engage Grants Program
Program name fr
Programme de subventions d'engagement partenariat
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1551
Committee name en
Atlantic Internal Decision Committee
Committee name fr
Comité de décision interne pour l'Atlantique
Area of application code
100
Area of application group en
Agriculture and primary food production
Area of application group fr
Agriculture et produits alimentaires primaires
Area of application en
Agriculture and primary food production
Area of application fr
Agriculture et produits alimentaires primaires
Research subject code
1504
Research subject group en
Environmental engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie de l'environnement
Research subject en
Solid waste management (including radioactivity)
Research subject fr
Gestion des déchets dangereux (y compris radioactivité)
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
New Substrate Waste Management Strategy
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
TruLeaf operates vertical farming for healthier food production. Current media preparation and seeding process consists of 5 steps using an artificial soil (peat) substrate. The currently used substrate also poses and contamination risk to the final product. It also adds complexity to the water management system by introducing small fibers that require filtration. The substrate needs to be available to ship worldwide with ease or purchased locally at any Goodleaf farm operation. The new substrate are being investigated with treatments that includes use of bark, straw, cellulose, biochar and hydrofiber. The objective of the proposed project is to determine the uses of substrates after growing cycle specially focusing on turning into slurry or biochar that can be recycled into the growing process. The work will also be carried out to investigate the biogas production potential of the waste and potential use of digested in farming. The work will investigate the overall sustainability of the process.
