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Niagara College’s horticulture research hub earns prestigious recognition

Niagara College has earned its third Technology Access Centre (TAC) designation, supported by $1.75 million in funding over five years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), which will support the work out of the school’s Horticultural and Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre (HESIC).

The funding, announced recently, is part of an overall $29.8 million investment from NSERC’s College and Community Innovation program.

TACs are specialized applied research and innovation hubs embedded within Canadian colleges. Funded by NSERC, TACs are designed to provide small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with access to state-of-the-art facilities, expert research staff, and technical services to help solve business challenges and facilitate product development. The college’s two other TACs include the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (WAMIC) and the Food and Beverage Innovation Centre (FBIC)

HESIC plans to expand its CEA services to include integrated pest management strategies, variety testing, third-party validation, and commercialization-focused R&D.

“Our new specialized research greenhouse and plant growth facility is purpose-built to help businesses test, refine, and scale their innovations in real-world conditions,” said Kimberley Cathline, Associate Director, HESIC in a post on the college’s website.

“With precision-controlled growing bays, postharvest and analytical labs, advanced genomics tools, and a forthcoming Health Canada-licensed cannabis cultivation space, we can support a wide range of applied research needs.”

To learn more about the TAC designation and services provided by HESIC, visit here.