A research scientist at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) has been awarded a $540,000 grant to study how the innovative use of LED lighting could boost greenhouse strawberry production.
"Due to climate change and extreme weather, growers are increasingly looking at indoor production," says Dr. Li Ma, a researcher at KPU's Institute for Sustainable Horticulture (ISH). "LED technology has made significant strides in recent years, allowing us to tailor the lighting spectrum and intensity to meet the specific needs of crops throughout their growth cycle. This leads to healthier, fresher, and better-quality fruit."
The project, funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Mitacs, will enable the ISH to address the many challenges faced by greenhouse strawberry growers, particularly the need for precise light management. As Ma explains, each strawberry variety has a different response to light, and controlling the spectrum of light can influence the plant's health, growth, and resistance to pests.
"By using LED lighting systems that adapt to the plant's needs, we can optimize growth and production while minimizing energy consumption," says Ma, emphasizing that this new technology is expected to reduce maintenance costs by 75% and energy costs by 40%. "The goal is to make strawberry farming more sustainable and less reliant on imported products — reducing carbon emissions and enhancing our local food security."
The KPU research team. (From left to right: Jean-Mornay du Plessis, Dr. Li Ma, Olivia Puszka, Sarah Murria and Aria Tamanaei.)
The three-year project involves collaboration with industry partners such as Sollum Technologies, a Montreal-based company that is contributing financial and in-kind support with their cutting-edge dynamic LED lighting systems. Another industry partner, Star Produce, is providing expert insights on indoor strawberry production, helping to bridge the gap between academic research and greenhouse applications.
"This project is a collaborative effort between academia and industry," explains Ma. "We are working together to ensure that the future of strawberry production in Canada is sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly."
A key component of this initiative is its focus on personnel training and student involvement. Jean-Mornay du Plessis, a student in the Diploma in Horticulture Technology program at KPU, performs weekly scouting for pests and checks drip and drain measurements, ensuring the plants are well-hydrated.
"There are incredible facilities and equipment at the ISH," says du Plessis. "I'm here to get more experimental, hands-on research experience because I plan to pursue a master's degree."
Olivia Puszka, a fourth-year KPU student in the Bachelor of Horticulture Science, Major in Plant Health program, has spent two years working with soil microorganisms and plants in different environments.
"Since we have many varieties of strawberries, we can observe which ones are more vulnerable to disease and pests," says Puszka. "I'm actually seeing subjects that I learned in my KPU classes applied to the variables of the plant itself. For me, that has been the coolest part of this experience so far."
Ma says that the lighting recipes developed in this project can also be applied to the Homegrown Innovation Challenge — a six-year, $33-million competition aimed at extending the growing season of berries in Canada, potentially setting the stage for a new era of indoor farming that will provide fresh, locally grown berries year-round.
The Institute for Sustainable Horticulture, one of three research institutes at KPU, improves ecosystem resilience by providing tools and strategies for agriculture and landscapes through applied research, innovation, knowledge sharing, and partnerships.
For more information:
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
www.kpu.ca/