Grant: Extend Innovation Enhancement Grants
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
$150,000.00
Plant and Seed Technologies for Boreal Reclamation and Reforestation
FY 2017-18
Summary
The NAIT Boreal Research Institute (BRI) project 'Plant and Seed Technologies for Boreal Reclamation andReforestation' introduces technologies and systems which, when tested and deployed, will accelerate theestablishment of young forests on industrial sites. Working with 10 industry and small-and-medium-sizedenterprise (SME) partners, BRI will develop seed products, technologies, methods, and equipment for thebroadcasting and establishment of boreal plants and seed (P&S) onto large-scale sites (e.g., in situ and surfacemining), problematic industrial sites (e.g., high saline and oil spill sites), and irregular sites (e.g. buffers,corridors, log lay-downs, steep slopes). Innovative seed products and broadcasting tools will enable the promptcovering of industrial sites with native, boreal forbs and shrubs. This ecologically-based approach will preventthe invasion of weeds and other undesirable species on freshly prepared industrial sites. In turn, P&Stechnologies are expected to reduce the need and high costs of chemical herbicides. Building upon BRI'spreliminary laboratory and greenhouse trials of priming and pelleting and the nano-coating of seeds, the projectfocuses on field applications through the operational testing of seed products and the development of practicalseed broadcasting tools and equipment. These new and adaptive technologies will provide industry and SMEswith cost-effective and versatile tools for reliable plant establishment and ecological resiliency. The projectwill spur the market adoption of technologies through the training of a projected 460 field practitioners andsupports for the commercialization of P&S technologies. Regional innovations (e.g., Northwest Alberta P&Sconsortium and Shrub Seed Orchard) will strengthen the industry-business supply chain, ultimately drivingSME competitiveness and diversification. The research program will train over 426 post-secondary and FirstNations students in field-ready scientific, equipment, research and professional skills to prepare them foremployment throughout Alberta and Canada.
Program
Extend Innovation Enhancement Grants
Location
Alberta, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
517845-2017
Name nom
Dambrowitz, Christopher
Department département
Office of Research and Innovation
Organization id
25090
Institution établissement
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2017
Competition year année de concours
2017
Award amount
150000
Program id
CCIPX
Program name en
Extend Innovation Enhancement Grants
Program name fr
Subvention de renforcement de l'innovation Continuité
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1564
Committee name en
Innovation Enhancement Grants
Committee name fr
Subventions de renforcement de l'innovation
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
4900
Research subject group en
Plant and treebiology
Research subject group fr
Biologie végétale et des arbres
Research subject en
Plant and treebiology
Research subject fr
Biologie végétale et des arbres
Partie
1
Nb partie
4
Application title
Plant and Seed Technologies for Boreal Reclamation and Reforestation
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The NAIT Boreal Research Institute (BRI) project 'Plant and Seed Technologies for Boreal Reclamation andReforestation' introduces technologies and systems which, when tested and deployed, will accelerate theestablishment of young forests on industrial sites. Working with 10 industry and small-and-medium-sizedenterprise (SME) partners, BRI will develop seed products, technologies, methods, and equipment for thebroadcasting and establishment of boreal plants and seed (P&S) onto large-scale sites (e.g., in situ and surfacemining), problematic industrial sites (e.g., high saline and oil spill sites), and irregular sites (e.g. buffers,corridors, log lay-downs, steep slopes). Innovative seed products and broadcasting tools will enable the promptcovering of industrial sites with native, boreal forbs and shrubs. This ecologically-based approach will preventthe invasion of weeds and other undesirable species on freshly prepared industrial sites. In turn, P&Stechnologies are expected to reduce the need and high costs of chemical herbicides. Building upon BRI'spreliminary laboratory and greenhouse trials of priming and pelleting and the nano-coating of seeds, the projectfocuses on field applications through the operational testing of seed products and the development of practicalseed broadcasting tools and equipment. These new and adaptive technologies will provide industry and SMEswith cost-effective and versatile tools for reliable plant establishment and ecological resiliency. The projectwill spur the market adoption of technologies through the training of a projected 460 field practitioners andsupports for the commercialization of P&S technologies. Regional innovations (e.g., Northwest Alberta P&Sconsortium and Shrub Seed Orchard) will strengthen the industry-business supply chain, ultimately drivingSME competitiveness and diversification. The research program will train over 426 post-secondary and FirstNations students in field-ready scientific, equipment, research and professional skills to prepare them foremployment throughout Alberta and Canada.
