MP Badawey and MP Bittle Celebrate the Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre Opening in Niagara

VINELAND STATION, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 3, 2016) - Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

Today, Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, along with Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, attended the grand opening of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre's new Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. While at the event, MP Badawey and MP Bittle announced a FedDev Ontario investment of up to $5.76 million in the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to develop and commercialize innovative horticultural and greenhouse technologies.

Canadian agricultural producers are responding to global demand for effective and reliable supplies of food. The funding announced today will help strengthen Canada's position in global food supply. FedDev Ontario funding will support the fit up of the new Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre, a state-of-the-art facility, which brings together research institutions, business and academia to research, develop and commercialize new technology solutions in the robotics, automation and greenhouse industries. This will help improve Ontario's competitiveness and increase domestic production of vegetables in the greenhouse sector.

The contribution will also go towards the development of four new innovative greenhouse technologies and will help bring to market an additional three automated systems. Some of the technologies supported through FedDev Ontario's contribution, including a mushroom harvester and wireless irrigation system, were showcased during the event. These innovations will help reduce labour and production costs, while producing safe and healthy foods in a controlled environment.

Please see the backgrounder for more information.

Quotes

"With FedDev Ontario's support, the technologies developed and commercialized by the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre will innovate the ways the greenhouse industry operates, here in Canada and abroad."

- The Honourable Navdeep Bains Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

"Today is a celebration that southern Ontario, and Niagara Region in particular, is a leader in greenhouse and horticultural sectors' innovation. The grand opening of the Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre will attract companies, research, and development partners to Niagara Region while creating new innovative jobs in our community."

- Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre

"The Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre provides a world-class facility for researchers and industry leaders to come together to find innovative solutions to strengthen both the manufacturing and the greenhouse sectors. This is what creates opportunities for southern Ontario, including building skills and creating high-quality jobs."

- Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines

"This funding will increase the capacity of Ontario's emerging innovation strength in greenhouse horticulture technologies. The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre's new Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre is uniquely positioned at the junction of the greenhouse horticulture and advanced engineering sectors to drive growth and we are thankful for FedDev Ontario's support to meet this challenge."

- Jim Brandle, CEO, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

Quick Facts

- FedDev Ontario's non-repayable contribution of up to $5.76 million, towards a total project cost of $13,326,764, is provided through the Investing in Commercialization Partnerships initiative.

- The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre expects to create 125 full-time equivalent jobs over the course of the project.

Related Products

Backgrounder: Opening of the Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre in Niagara

Associated Links

Investing in Commercialization Partnerships

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

Website: www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca

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Backgrounder

Opening of the Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre in Niagara

Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, along with Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, announced a non-repayable contribution of up to $5.76 million in the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to fit up of the new Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre, a state-of-the-art facility, which brings together research institutions, business and academia to research, develop and commercialize new technology solutions in the robotics, automation and greenhouse industries. The announcement was made today, at the grand opening of the centre, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario.

Through this project, four innovative greenhouse technologies are being developed. They consist of: an automated vegetable packing system, an automated disease detection system, automated gripper tools to handle horticultural produce, and wireless temperature and moisture sensing systems for greenhouse production.

In addition, the project will bring to market three automated systems for greenhouse horticultural products. They consist of: an automated planting system, an automated potted plant packaging system, and an automated mushroom harvesting system.

The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is collaborating with 15 partners on this project, including government,academia, not-for-profit organizations and the private sector.

It is expected that this project will create up to 125 full-time jobs.

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre was established in 2007 to address the key issues impacting the horticultural industry, while contributing to the commercialization of new technologies. A not-for-profit organization, The centre helps bring together researchers and industry leaders, to form partnerships and develop innovative products and production solutions that will benefit the horticulture industry.

Previous FedDev Ontario Funding Received by the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

Program		Project Description		FedDev Ontario Contribution (up to)		Anticipated Number of Jobs to be Created by Project
Prosperity Initiative (2012)		A non-repayable contribution of up to $2,500,000 was provided to support the development of robotic automation systems for use in greenhouses and nurseries. Three of the automation systems developed from the 2012 contribution, will be commercialized using support from new FedDev Ontario funding.		$2,511,035 Total project cost: $5,022,071		11 full-time equivalent positions were created during project implementation.
Community Adjustment Fund (2010)		A non-repayable contribution of up to $1,062,000 was provided to support renovations to the Lodge Business Centre, a fire damaged historic lodge building that was converted into a business incubator. The project was successfully completed and the business development centre now helps horticulture and agri-business companies bring new products to market. There are currently six tenants: Flowers Canada Growers, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, Hoogendoorn, Lincoln Archives, Twenty Valley Tourism Association and Wine Council of Ontario.		$1,062,000 Total project cost: $1,180,000		30 full-time equivalent positions were created during project implementation.

For more information, visit www.vinelandresearch.com.

FedDev Ontario's Investing in Commercialization Partnerships Initiative

The Investing in Commercialization Partnerships (ICP) initiative supports business-led partnerships with a focus on developing globally-competitive products and services, or innovation platforms that can demonstrate commercial value.

Post-secondary institutions and incorporated not-for-profit organizations, publicly-funded colleges and universities, research institutions, and industry associations located in southern Ontario are eligible to apply under this initiative for projects that are business-led and focus on new technologies or platforms with demonstrated commercial value.

For more information, visit the Investing in Commercialization Partnerships webpage.

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News release: MP Badawey and MP Bittle Celebrate the Collaborative Greenhouse Technology Centre Opening in Niagara