Prof seeks N.W.T. gov't funding to launch northern LED greenhouse

A professor at the University of Guelph wants to repurpose technology developed for growing food in space and apply it to the harsh environment of Canada's North, but a lack of funding is holding up the project.

Dr.Mike Dixon, a director of the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility at the University of Guelph, has developed a way to grow plants with LED lights instead of sunlight.

The computer controlled system produces vegetables and fruits indoors and year-round.

"You need to know the recipe of what colours to use," said Dixon. "Believe it or not you can change the size, shape, colour and taste of a plant by messing with the spectral quality of the light that services photosynthesis."

Dixon says the technology is ready for a pilot project. Histeam finished a prototype commissioned by the Kuwaiti government for $200,000 in 2015, and he says he would prefer to launch the pilot project in Canada but he doesn't have a funding partner.

"There is no shortage of champions in the Northwest Territories," he said. "It just depends on aligning the stars to get the appropriate funding and just doing it."

One of those champions is Jackie Milne, the president of the Northern Farm Training Institute in Hay River, N.W.T.

Milne says an insulated barn at the institute could house Dixon's pilot project, which could in turn generate year-round produce for the institute to sell.

"We have the knowledge. We have the ability. We have access to the technology," said Milne. "It's time to do it."

Dixon wants enough money to build a five-unit system for the training institute, and to cut a deal with the Northwest Territories government for cheap power from the hydro grid.

"You don't want to be growing tomatoes with diesel energy," said Dixon. "The sweetheart energy deal would offset the subsidy that you currently have to pay for strawberries from Mexico. The money would stay in the Northwest Territories."

Milne says a government economic development committeehas visited the institute and is interested in the pilot project, but no funding has been committed.

CBC has requested comment from the N.W.T. government, but an interview has not yet been granted.