Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
St. Lawrence College
$25,000.00
Comparison of a novel nanobubble oxygenation system to existing hydrogen peroxide dosing and its impacts_x000d_ on plant growth and yield at an indoor hydroponic farm.
FY 2020-21
Summary
A St. Lawrence College research team and Fieldless Farms, a hydroponic farming company located in Cornwall, Ontario, are partnering on a project to optimize hydroponic plant harvests using nanobubble technology.
The project will compare a nanobubble oxygen delivery system in a hydroponic lettuce farming system to a conventional hydrogen peroxide dosing system to see which method stimulates more growth and greater plant yields.
The small volume-to-surface-area ratio of nanobubbles allows the nutrients to remain suspended in solution for extended periods, therefore stabilizing dissolved oxygen available to plant root systems to support a high nutrient uptake. The hypothesis is that; 1. Fieldless Farms will significantly increase their yields using the nanobubble oxygenation system, and; 2. The company can eliminate using organic chemicals in their farming process and the associated costs.
The food crop industry is highly competitive and margins can be slim; however, if successful, this project could allow Fieldless Farms to expand its operations threefold, decrease its wholesale product costs, and increase food availability to local communities.
Program
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Other
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
557152-2020
Name nom
Dick, Ian
Department département
Kingston campus
Organization id
25433
Institution établissement
St. Lawrence College
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
Comparison of a novel nanobubble oxygenation system to existing hydrogen peroxide dosing and its impacts_x000d_
on plant growth and yield at an indoor hydroponic farm.
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
A St. Lawrence College research team and Fieldless Farms, a hydroponic farming company located in Cornwall, Ontario, are partnering on a project to optimize hydroponic plant harvests using nanobubble technology.
The project will compare a nanobubble oxygen delivery system in a hydroponic lettuce farming system to a conventional hydrogen peroxide dosing system to see which method stimulates more growth and greater plant yields.
The small volume-to-surface-area ratio of nanobubbles allows the nutrients to remain suspended in solution for extended periods, therefore stabilizing dissolved oxygen available to plant root systems to support a high nutrient uptake. The hypothesis is that; 1. Fieldless Farms will significantly increase their yields using the nanobubble oxygenation system, and; 2. The company can eliminate using organic chemicals in their farming process and the associated costs.
The food crop industry is highly competitive and margins can be slim; however, if successful, this project could allow Fieldless Farms to expand its operations threefold, decrease its wholesale product costs, and increase food availability to local communities.
