Vineland Research and Innovation Centre Inc.is getting $5 million to be the centre for greenhouse technology research.
Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay made the announcement to create the Automation Cluster under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
He said in a news release that “Canada’s agricultural sector faces significant labour challenges and the greenhouse industry has the largest labour gap.
“It is estimated that labour shortages can cost the sector up to $1.5 billion in lost productivity and sales. The Automation Cluster will help address labour costs and availability through automation, artificial intelligence and precision agriculture technologies in the horticulture sector.
“Over the next five years, world-class researchers at Vineland will focus research on three key areas, including:
· developing and testing robotic harvesters for greenhouse cucumbers;
· developing smart, wireless irrigation technologies for potted flowers and vegetables;
· developing state-of-the-art sensors that will help detect and monitor moisture levels in the soil and air.
What MacAulay did not say is that a marijuana grower near Leamington is leading the push to automation of greenhouse planting and harvesting.
