Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

The objective of this research is to define and refine the bioactive components in a BC kelp product Kelpgrow,so that the West Coast Marine Bio-processing Corp. (WCMBP) can develop new value-added products for newapplications and new markets in agriculture. Phase I identified the bioactive as well as an inhibitory fraction ofKelpgrow. Phase II will define scaleable industrial filtration and resin processes to separate at least two activefractions, and develop several new products based on these bioactivities. When WCMBPs new products aredeveloped with defined plant regulatory activity, they will be of interest to a range of markets in tissue culture,vegetable and berry production, ornamental propagation, seasonal flowering tropicals - all of which demandprecision growth management.The project will benefit the company by supporting its investment in new technology, while Kwantlen willbenefit by training students, instructional staff and a Post Doctoral Fellow in applied research, increasing thecapacity of the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture to assist local companies in their research anddevelopment, and enhancing the universities polytechnic mandate. Economic benefits will accrue to the remotenorthern island communities where the kelp is harvested and processed sustainably, as well as to a broad rangeof Canadian plant agricultural industries which will use new bioactive products in production of high valueplant products. These new products have potential to replace chemical treatments and/or prevent fertilizerleaching by promoting better plant utilization of resources, thus preserving the environment.