Finding Clean Tech Solutions: Lessons from the Greenhouse Technology Network

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As Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN) members wind up year six projects at the end of March, I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve learned while launching this unique network of five research centres. Working alongside research and subject matter experts at each research centre has been challenging but also immensely rewarding work. Navigating an emerging cleantech ecosystem around indoor horticulture has shown us that one can find success while working at the unpredictable “edges” of an industry, as well as astounding innovation and collaboration.

GTN began operations just prior to the pandemic, not an ideal setting for launching a network! (Remember when no one was in office to answer their phone?) Despite this, by leveraging social media, our team reached out to personal, industry, and academic connections to search for greenhouse-related technology businesses developing and testing solutions for greenhouse and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry challenges. 
There are a lot of businesses developing potential solutions for indoor horticulture, but they are not neatly located in one industry or sector nor are they always in sectors adjacent to agriculture or the greenhouse industry. These technology businesses can be found in almost any industry or sector! 

“GTN has connected over 300 organizations across this emerging, indoor agri-tech ecosystem, and has helped small- and medium-sized businesses find information, expertise and facilities, and funding. Sharing business connections for technology businesses facing an unclear pathway to commercialization in a new (to them) ecosystem is necessary for innovation success.” - Rita Sterne

• Lesson One: The clean technologies needed to grow plants sustainably and profitably indoors in the future require creative solutions from a staggering breadth of experts and businesses. As a result, a sustained and creative outreach strategy is necessary to find and connect with these innovators.

Pursuing a shared goal of supporting innovation for Ontario’s greenhouse industry proved crucial to the network’s success. With an online presence established in April 2021, the number of applications steadily grew for funded innovation projects. In early 2023, two new network members were added, further enabling GTN to leverage their greenhouse and technology expertise and reach out to technology businesses needing professional research support.
Investments in cleantech projects have resulted in the testing and validation of over 66 innovative solutions to date (and more in the pipeline). Many projects required greenhouse trials in a controlled environment facility; these trials and are time-consuming but necessary for every greenhouse-related technology. By reducing risk for industry/growers through trials and other projects, GTN members have reduced risk for industry. In addition, two centres provided additional support to Ontario businesses through market insights research that informs additional technology development to meet industry needs and support a successful commercialization strategy. 

• Lesson Two: Investing in cleantech solutions is a complex and lengthy process but is well-supported by networks with technology expertise and the industry market knowledge to support the case for technology adoption.

To date, GTN has connected over 300 organizations across this emerging, indoor agri-tech ecosystem, and has helped small- and medium-sized businesses find information, expertise and facilities, and funding. Sharing business connections for technology businesses facing an unclear pathway to commercialization in a new (to them) ecosystem is necessary for innovation success.

• Lesson Three:  Networks are well-suited to serve many ecosystem partners across industry and sector boundaries. They are an ideal organizational form to share connections and help ecosystem partners share information and collaborate on solutions.

Finally, I’d like to share a personal reflection. I’m fond of saying that curiosity is my superpower. In my role with GTN, I have leveraged that superpower; I add to my chemistry, physics, and biology knowledge daily. Just as my high school education helped me understand these sciences, my post-secondary education helped me understand the delicate balance of innovation, the factors affecting competitiveness and business success, and the importance of collaborating around shared goals. 

In this role, I have also worked across academic disciplines, industries, sectors, and academic institutions and models with our five GTN members—and I’ve learned from every single one of their perspectives on challenges facing the greenhouse industry. I have also learned from businesses and growers of all sizes about how they make tough decisions. 

• Lesson Four: Curiosity is a superb foundation that has enabled navigation of a complex, new ecosystem. Curiosity also helped me find ways to work with five distinctly different institutional partners to leverage resources to reach a shared goal, thereby, contributing to the development of a variety of cleantech solutions for Ontario’s greenhouse industry.

The greenhouse industry is a complex ecosystem comprised of many, advanced plant production technologies working together with a wide variety of ecosystem supports. I encourage us to continue to embrace the lack of predictability of this context and to openly discuss solutions and trade-offs with colleagues and contacts; this will help us build important and new relationships and build trust across the ecosystem. What else can we do together?
There are many plant production settings and scales across which a new, clean technology may be adopted. Let’s share encouragement; innovation in this space is highly challenging and the risks are real. Let’s share our agriculture and technology knowledge with innovating businesses; they need to understand indoor agriculture and all its wonderful complexities.

If I’ve made a connection that has been helpful to your business in the last 4+ years, I’m glad! Let’s stay in touch!