RDAR grows partnership with Whole Leaf to enhance Canadian food security

RDAR has invested $229,065 to further investigate and develop water management strategies that reduce fungal root rot in leafy greens cultivated hydroponically by Lethbridge-based greenhouse grower Whole Leaf.

Cleaning the greenhouse irrigation system required a lengthy shutdown of the entire operation. Realizing this disruption was far from ideal, Whole Leaf sought a solution that would enable cleaning during regular operations. Whole Leaf identified that ozone, as an oxidizing agent, could potentially prevent biofilm build-up within the irrigation system during normal use and thereby avoid costly stoppages.

Whole Leaf is now furthering its research into discovering alternatives to traditional fungicides by optimizing ozone disinfection for recirculating water and using beneficial microorganisms to promote a healthy root system within plants grown in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems.

CEA operations promote water conservation and enhance food security by growing produce locally. These indoor environments conserve substantial amounts of water: only plants consume water, there is minimal evaporation loss, and water is recirculated through irrigation systems. However, waterborne fungal pathogens pose a significant threat to the broader adoption of CEA, and with the approved use of fungicides being limited, the innovative application of ozone to address this issue could prove to be a major breakthrough.

Colin Chapdelaine, President, Whole Leaf, said: "At Whole Leaf, we're committed to driving sustainable innovation in greenhouse agriculture, and we're proud to partner with RDAR and the Government of Alberta on this important project. Our focus is on enhancing root and plant health through advanced biological and water treatment strategies that improve system performance and resilience. By strengthening our ability to grow high-quality produce year-round, this work supports long-term food security in Alberta and Canada. It's an investment in practical, scalable innovation that reinforces Alberta's leadership in controlled environment agriculture."

Commenting on today's announcement, Clinton Dobson, RDAR Vice President, Research, said: "It is vital that viable research into food security is nurtured to further economic growth, sustainability, and keep grocery prices down. Whole Leaf is taking advantage RDAR funding to bring impactful results for all of Alberta's CEA industry."