Grant: Technology Access Centre

The Integrated Agriculture Technology Centre (IATC) is meeting the demand for quality innovation support and research services for the Integrated- and Controlled-Environment Agriculture industry. Established as a TAC in 2020, the IATC is strategically located in Lethbridge, Alberta which is the hub for Canada’s Premiere Food Corridor that covers 4.2M acres with nearly 5000 farms and 11,000 businesses and an annual GDP of $8B. Through its unique combination of expertise and over 20,000 sqft of commercial-scale facilities, the IATC specializes in greenhouse techniques and technologies, growing media, hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming, mycology, integrated pest management, Recirculation Aquaculture Systems (RAS) design & operation, RAS ecosystem health, RAS water quality, water conservation, waste management, aerobic bioreactor technology, and novel micro filtration systems. Focused on small enterprise businesses (<100 employees) and not-for-profit organizations, the IATC is a leader in sustainable, zero waste agricultural solutions. Integrated- and Controlled-Environment Agriculture systems are important to meeting Canada’s climate change strategy while promoting food security, food sovereignty, and food equity. These systems are also important to the Canadian economy with Alberta’s greenhouse sector covering ~565 acres and producing over $199M in sales in 2020. RAS aquaculture is also growing with some of western Canada’s largest producers located in the Lethbridge area. The upcoming federal government ban on open net-pen aquaculture in BC presents a significant challenge to the aquaculture industry; however, with the IATC’s expertise in designing and operationalizing RAS systems, open net-pen producers have an established service provider should they move inland. With a thirty-six-year history in aquaculture applied research and a twenty-two-year history of applied research in Integrated- and Controlled Environment Agriculture, the IATC is part of the larger Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta that offers clients various supports to achieve movement along the business / investment readiness continuum in parallel with TRL movement. As a centre within Lethbridge Polytechnic, the IATC is integrated into academic curriculum and is training future HQP through its high involvement of students. With a renewal of funding, the IATC will continue to help the Integrated- and Controlled Environment Agriculture sector remain competitive.