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Canada’s berry best moves forward in innovation challenge

The Weston Family Foundation has launched the third phase of its Homegrown Innovation Challenge, focused on extending the growing season for berries in Canada.

In a recent news release, the foundation said the next phase of the challenge will advance systems and prove they are ready for the market.

According to the release, four ‘Scaling Phase’ grantees from across Canada will each receive $5 million over three years.

Chosen from a cohort of 11 teams in the previous ‘Shepherd Phase,’ the four groups will demonstrate and refine their systems under “real-world” conditions at farm scale, the foundation said in the release.

This phase is expected to drive advancements in automation of lighting, improved berry varieties for indoor production and microclimate management.

According to the foundation, the initiative aims to strengthen Canada’s growing network of producers, researchers, technologists and entrepreneurs committed to transforming how and where food is grown.

“Over the next three years, Scaling Phase teams will need to demonstrate large-scale implementation of their systems and prove market readiness. And most importantly, the berries need to be tasty and nutritious,” said Garfield Mitchell, chair of the Weston Family Foundation, in the release.

“This is an exciting time for academia, industry and government to come together to accelerate innovative, homegrown solutions to hyper-local food production in Canada.”

For more information on the Scaling Phase teams, click here.