Key Takeaways
- Université Laval has received a $5 million grant from the Weston Family Foundation for its VertBerry project.
- The initiative focuses on developing a modular, closed-environment bioponic system for high-performance strawberry transplants.
- The project is one of four finalists in the national “Homegrown Innovation Challenge.”
- Led by Professor Martine Dorais, the team includes researchers and partners from Cultivar, Ulysse Biotech, and Farm3.
- VertBerry aims to reduce reliance on imported transplants and promote sustainability in Canadian berry production.
Université Laval Team Advances in National Agricultural Innovation Competition
$5M in Support for Sustainable Strawberry Propagation System
A research team from Université Laval, led by Professor Martine Dorais of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FSAA), has secured a $5 million grant from the Weston Family Foundation as part of the “Cultiver l’innovation d’ici” (Homegrown Innovation Challenge). The funding will support the development and commercialization of VertBerry, a controlled environment agriculture system designed to produce healthy, high-yielding strawberry transplants.
The initiative is among four finalists selected in the competition, which promotes scalable solutions to extend the berry growing season in Canada.
VertBerry System Designed for Flexibility, Biosecurity, and Efficiency
Combining Bioponics, Phenotyping, and Microbiome Engineering
The Université Laval project introduces VertBerry, a scalable bioponic platform integrating phenotyping technology, microbiome engineering, smart resource management, and varietal selection. The system’s modular design uses sustainable materials and optimized vertical infrastructure to reduce both environmental impact and capital costs.
Key features of the system include:
- A closed, climate-controlled environment that limits disease spread
- Optimized use of water, nutrients, and energy
- Production of transplants suitable for greenhouse, tunnel, or open-field growing
- Residue-free strawberries
VertBerry Project: Addressing Canadian Agricultural Challenges
Food Sovereignty and Reduced Dependence on Imports
The VertBerry project responds to critical issues in Canadian horticulture, such as limited domestic availability of disease-free transplants and dependence on foreign sources. The system is designed to support year-round production and increase economic returns for growers.
“It is crucial to strengthen our food self-sufficiency while preserving natural resources and adopting sustainable agricultural technologies,” said Professor Dorais, who holds the MAPAQ Research Chair in Organic Greenhouse Horticulture and Controlled Environments.
Next Phase: Large-Scale Commercial Validation
Three-Year Pilot Under Final Phase of National Challenge
As part of the final phase of the Homegrown Innovation Challenge, the VertBerry team—consisting of researchers Martine Dorais, Steeve Pepin, Charles Goulet, and industry partners Cultivar, Ulysse Biotech, and Farm3—will begin implementation and refinement of the system in commercial-scale settings over a three-year period.
The project’s outcome could help position Canada as a leader in sustainable agri-food innovation and controlled environment agriculture solutions.
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