Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology
$25,000.00
Development of Greenhouse Fertility Treatments in Support of Organic Production
FY 2020-21
Summary
Numerous challenges exist in organic greenhouse production, one of the largest being a lack of potent and predictable fertilizers that can also meet organic certification requirements. Due to this, nutrient imbalances are well known in organic greenhouses and these imbalances can create issues, including poor plant performance and loss of nutrients to the environment. Improved and rapid delivery of nutrients to the plant via the leaves (i.e. foliar feeding) could improve nutrient use efficiency and alleviate nutrient deficiency during seedling development.
Roelands Plant Farms Inc. has been producing premium conventional and organic seedlings for Ontario's greenhouse vegetable industry in Lambton Shores since 2013. Since that time, Roelands has grown into a successful endeavour, one that prides itself on using the latest technology and innovations to continue to grow in a responsible manner. A new Roelands initiative is the creation of Plantables, a service that provides organic vegetable and herb seedlings directly to consumers.
Optimum delivery of nutrients to plants can be challenging under organic production conditions, and Roelands has noticed signs of nutrient deficiency in seedlings in preparation for shipping, a crucial time in terms of both seedling development and customer satisfaction. Roelands seeks to improve seedling fertility by experimentally determining optimal nutrient sources, formulations and application timing. In addition to addressing nutrient imbalances, the proprietary organic fertility regimes generated by this project could also decrease seedling development time, thereby creating a competitive advantage for Roelands.
The knowledge and research capacity accrued as a result of this project will be used to serve other industrial greenhouse partners. Moreover, displacing conventional crop nutrients produced from fossil feedstocks or mineral reserves with natural treatments derived from organic waste or renewable resources will benefit Canadian society by reducing environmental pollution.
Program
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
556560-2020
Name nom
Sheikhzadeh, Mehdi
Department département
Head Office
Organization id
26621
Institution établissement
Lambton College of Applied Arts and Technology
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2020
Competition year année de concours
2020
Award amount
25000
Program id
CARD1
Program name en
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée - niveau 1
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1561
Committee name en
Applied Research and Development Grants
Committee name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée
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
1200
Research subject group en
Agricultural engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie rural
Research subject en
Agricultural engineering
Research subject fr
Génie rural
Installment
inst:1 - 1
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Development of Greenhouse Fertility Treatments in Support of Organic Production
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Numerous challenges exist in organic greenhouse production, one of the largest being a lack of potent and predictable fertilizers that can also meet organic certification requirements. Due to this, nutrient imbalances are well known in organic greenhouses and these imbalances can create issues, including poor plant performance and loss of nutrients to the environment. Improved and rapid delivery of nutrients to the plant via the leaves (i.e. foliar feeding) could improve nutrient use efficiency and alleviate nutrient deficiency during seedling development.
Roelands Plant Farms Inc. has been producing premium conventional and organic seedlings for Ontario's greenhouse vegetable industry in Lambton Shores since 2013. Since that time, Roelands has grown into a successful endeavour, one that prides itself on using the latest technology and innovations to continue to grow in a responsible manner. A new Roelands initiative is the creation of Plantables, a service that provides organic vegetable and herb seedlings directly to consumers.
Optimum delivery of nutrients to plants can be challenging under organic production conditions, and Roelands has noticed signs of nutrient deficiency in seedlings in preparation for shipping, a crucial time in terms of both seedling development and customer satisfaction. Roelands seeks to improve seedling fertility by experimentally determining optimal nutrient sources, formulations and application timing. In addition to addressing nutrient imbalances, the proprietary organic fertility regimes generated by this project could also decrease seedling development time, thereby creating a competitive advantage for Roelands.
The knowledge and research capacity accrued as a result of this project will be used to serve other industrial greenhouse partners. Moreover, displacing conventional crop nutrients produced from fossil feedstocks or mineral reserves with natural treatments derived from organic waste or renewable resources will benefit Canadian society by reducing environmental pollution.
