Niagara College opens new research greenhouse

On November 14, Niagara College officially unveiled its $12 million Horticultural and Environmental Sciences Innovation Centre (HESIC) Greenhouse at its Niagara-on-the-Lake campus. Now, with 1,260-square metres of new dedicated applied research space on campus, HESIC has significantly branched out its capacity and capabilities.

The new HESIC Greenhouse was designed to closely replicate a professional growing environment at a smaller, more controlled scale, enabling college researchers to test novel technologies and production practices, and provide validated data that helps bridge the gap between concept and commercial success for growers.

Five individually contained bays with separate temperature and lighting controls allow for the simultaneous testing of diverse conditions. The bays are equipped with spectrum-adjustable LEDs and high-pressure sodium lighting systems to mimic natural or controlled lighting.

The facility also features advanced hydroponic setups, including Ebb and Flood Tables for efficient nutrient delivery and Nutrient Film Technique Systems for maximizing oxygenation at the root zone, as well as a dedicated Highwire Bay for optimizing the vertical growth of vine crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers.

For highly accurate research, it includes a Vertical Grow Room with Hoogendoorn climate controls and a Conviron Gen 2000 growth chamber for small-scale tissue culture work. Researchers can track plant performance with precision, ensuring that every trial delivers validated data, with tools such as the Phenospex Trailfinder, which scans to measure plant parameters such as growth and health, and DroughtSpotter scales, which allows for highly precise irrigation, paving the way for potential drought stress testing.

"Advancing agricultural research and education is critical to addressing the evolving needs of growers and the industry as a whole. Facilities like this play an important role in fostering innovation and providing the resources needed to evaluate and develop solutions that benefit growers and support the future of agriculture," said Dr. W. Zeb Rehig, Protected Sweet Pepper Development Breeder for North America, Bayer CropScience LP. "We are excited to see how this new space will contribute to the growth and success of the horticultural and environmental sciences sectors."

A significant variety trial is already underway at the HESIC Greenhouse, focusing on more than 50 different pepper varieties, where researchers are comparing performance metrics, including yield and quality, and actively investigating the peppers' resistance and performance when infected with the Fusarium pathogen. With the first phase nearing completion, the second phase, with new plants, is scheduled to begin in December.