An invention that provides frost protection for sensitive crops has won second place in a competition sponsored jointly by Dairy Farmers of Canada and Bioenterprise, Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine.
Advanced AgriScience founder Collin Juurakko said his invention is the world’s first frost protection tool for plants made of naturally-occurring micro-organisms and protective proteins.
The product is a dry powder that’s mixed with water and spray-applied to prevent frost formation on plants, resulting in an up to 95 per cent cost savings per acre without emitting greenhouse gasses or using large quantities of water, Juurakko said.
“Frost is caused by one bacterium and as we studied it, we found a protective protein that plants can use to interact with water molecules to prevent ice crystals from forming and growing,” he said.
“Wind machines and irrigation focus on warming the plant but don’t address the molecular cause of frost.”
