NSERCCollaborative Research &

Development ProjectInnovative Technologies in Challenging Environments

(InTICE)

Dr. Michael Dixon, Principal InvestigatorDr. Bernie Grodzinski, Co-Applicant

April 27, 2011

History• NSERC CRD 1994• OCE/Industry project support 1993 – present• CFI/OIT 1999

Technology TransferThe “pull” of technology

requirements for human space exploration yields significant benefits

to terrestrial industry

Commercialization

• 8 invention disclosures• 6 patents• 5 license agreements• 2 spin off companies

Product/application development: •EnviroGro Recyclable Media•RoyalGro1, RoyalGro2•Guelph BlueBox SECs•Fly Larvae Organic Fertilizer•Root Rescue Landscape Powder•Aqueous Ozone Disinfection•Wireless Sensor Interface•Automated Psychrometer Interface•Hybrid Biofilter•Modular Biofilter•Ammonia Scrubber

Proposed CRD project

LED Arrays

Stem Psychrometer

Ion Specific Sensors

Develop & Test Innovative Technologies to Enhance theReliability of Controlled Environment Food Production

Remote Imaging System

• Manipulating the quality, quantity and distribution of light energy in the plant canopy

• Applying innovative LED technology• Refining the management and measurement

of plant physiological responses to light• Integrate the management of plant nutrition

Light Emitting Diodes

Light Emitting DiodesMSc (2) Programs(M1, M2, M10, M11, M14)

Evaluation of selected components; engineering and testing in specific applications for plant production.

Evaluation of plant responses to spectral quality (P, E, stomatal function, biomass, etc) at various physiological stages.

Ion Specific Sensor Technology• Nutrient solution quality is the last

uncontrolled major environment variable • Agri-Food sector faces legislation to mitigate

environmental impact• Absolute requirement in space to recycle• New sensor technology holds the key to

enable reliable hydroponic nutrient recycling in controlled environments

• Application of newly developed optrode sensors for measuring N, P, K, Ca

• Develop hardware interface and adaptive software algorithms for deploying ion sensors

• Confirm nutrient management protocols • Measure plant physiological responses to

combined management of light and nutrition

Ion Specific Sensor Technology

Ion Specific Sensor Technology PDF, PhD Programs(M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M8, M14)

Develop and test hardware interface and software

Controlled environment chamber field trials

Commercial-scale field trials with industry collaborators

Detailed horticultural assessment of efficacy

• Design and engineer prototype fluorescence imaging system

• Harden and refine prototype design in CESRF chambers (e.g., image size, telemetry, data storage and analysis)

• Characterize plant health and gene expression responses under various nutrient and light conditions

Remote Imaging System

Remote Imaging SystemPDF, PhD Programs(M9, M10, M11, M14)

Development & testing of next generation remote chlorophyll fluorescence imaging system

Deployment of imaging system to monitor plant health in controlled environments

Technology Transfer

The “pull” of technology is

not only relevant; it is

real, iterative, and it brings real-time benefits to terrestrial

Canadian industry

Current Analog Deployments

Current Flight MissionAPEX

Joint CSA – NASA Payload

Orbit – Shuttle to ISS

Middeck locker Express Rack

ABRS

HMP – Devon Island

ACMG

TIS-II

Arabidopsis

GFP

CRD

Stem Psychrometer

• Refine technical applications and deploy automated stem psychrometers on candidate crops

• Monitor integrated plant water status in response to environmental management

• Develop optimum environment control algorithms

Stem PsychrometerMSc (2) Programs(M11, M12, M13, M14)

Refine hardware and technical applications, evolve feedback control software algorithms based on integrated water status measurements.

Correlate water relations and other plant physiological responses to imposed environmental regimes of lighting & nutrition in SECs.

Integrated Experiments

• Training and development of 23 new HQP to meet specific industry & space science needs of the future

• Unique coalition of science and technology• New international partnership (UFlorida)• New commercialization opportunities in the

Canadian greenhouse and aerospace sectors (e.g. food production in north, flight hardware)

• Canadian niche field at the forefront

Overview of CRD

QUESTIONS

HEALTH BREAK

Research BudgetProposed Cash and In Kind Contributions

Cash In Kind

University of Guelph 590,905

COM DEV Ltd 750,000 250,000

Canadian Space Agency 300,000 500,000

NSERC 904,165

TOTAL 1,954,165 1,340,905

Research BudgetProposed Expenditures

Category Total Percentage of Total

Personnel 1,204,130 61.6%Equipment/Facilities 332,000 17.0%Operating1 138,700 7.1%

Collaboration/Travel 133,500 6.8%

Indirect Costs 145,835 7.5%TOTAL 1,954,165

1 Materials & Supplies, Dissemination, Other

CRD ManagementCo-Applicant

Dr. B. Grodzinski Principal Investigator

Dr. M. Dixon

Project AdminT. Rondeau Vuk

Technical Lead

(Sensors)T. Graham

Technical Lead(Comp & Data Acq).

J. Lawson

Technical Lead (SECs)

Dr. M. Stasiak

Hort TechD. Gidzinski

CSADr. A. Berinstain

UFloridaDr.’s R. Ferl, A-L. Paul

COM DEVDr. A. Scott, Ed Passon

PDFM. Bamsey INO

Technical Lead (Imaging)

Dr. D. Leonardos

GC/IRGA TechL. Wang

HPLC TechP. Zhang

Technical ManagerDr. Y. Zheng

CRD Management• Quarterly mtg’s with Industry/Agency partners

– CRD PI/Co-Applicant, Program Manager, Research Leads– Teleconferences as required

• Planning mtg’s monthly– CRD PI/Co-Applicant, Research Leads, Program Manager

• Sub Level mtg’s bi-weekly– Research Leads, Support Personnel

• Open door policy of PI for internal program management, research leads, students and support staff

Research PersonnelM. Dixon, Director CESRF, Principal InvestigatorB. Grodzinski, Co-Director CESRF, Co-ApplicantR. Ferl and A-L. Paul, UoF Collaborators, Imaging SystemsA. Berinstain, CSA Collaborator, Ion Sensors, Imaging SystemsA. Scott, E. Passon, COM DEV, Ion Sensors, LEDsT. Rondeau Vuk, Program Manager, Contract and Financial Y. Zheng, Technical Manager, Facility OperationsM. Stasiak, Senior Research Associate, LEDs & PsychrometerD. Leonardos, Senior Research Associate, Imaging SystemsM. Bamsey, CSA PDF, Ion SensorsT. Graham, Senior Research Associate, Ion Sensor LeadJ. Lawson, Senior Technician, Computer Systems, Data AcquisitionTechnical Support Personnel, Students, Interns

Intellectual Property Highlights of the draft agreement include:• Appropriate protection and safeguarding of

confidential and/or proprietary information• Terms on ownership of and access to new IP• Terms for publication of scientific results • Other participants will be acknowledged and

benefit accordingly

Benefits of Proposed CRD• Canada

– Meets goals of Science & Technology Strategy– Environmental compliance in Canada’s $2.4B greenhouse industry– Technologies for food production in the north

• COM DEV Ltd– New R&D program ~ $2M/yr– Development of new commercial opportunities– Establish leadership in niche field

• Canadian Space Agency– Signature technology in a strategic area– Addresses capacity building and retention mandate– Potential space flight opportunities for CDN technologies

• UoGuelph UoFlorida– Investment in new HQP and IP - Enhanced International collaboration– Enhanced academic programs - Unique integrated science operations– Sustain UoG stature in ALS - CDN support for imagers

QUESTIONS