Advanced environmental chamber equipment for enhanced capacity in Nova Scotia's agricultural industry

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Over the past two decades, outdoor agriculture has become more technologically advanced with the integration of automated tractors, sensors, and drones, all in the effort to increase yield and efficiencies. However, regardless of how technologically advanced outdoor agriculture becomes, weather remains the strongest factor that influences yearly agricultural food quality and production, as biotic and abiotic stresses caused by weather can negatively impact crop quality and yields. Weather events, such as frosts, drought, and heat stress can cause hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue. With farmers continually feeling the pressure to increase food quality and quantity and provide reliable yearly yield amounts to markets, reducing the impact weather events can have on crop quality and yields is desired and needed by producers. Determining how to mitigate weather event impacts on production is especially timely and important considering the climate change that is already occurring and is expected to increase the occurrence of abotic and biotic stresses, which will add more volatility to the ability to grow large amounts of quality food. To address this current and future need, there has been an increase in industries creating soil amendments and biostimulants to help protect crops and reduce the negative impacts of detrimental weather events on food production. In order to grow and thrive commercially, these new industries require research and development that provides scientific evidence to support the use of their products. As a result, NSCC is requesting funding support for three controlled environment chambers to help companies test and create products that reduce negative weather impacts. Two reach-in controlled growth chambers and one reach-in cold chamber are requested, which will help NSCC researchers tackle agricultural challenges around testing and determine the usefulness of soil amendments and biostimulants under various climate scenarios (e.g., heat stress, drought, frost, etc). Overall, the acquisition of this equipment will provide a valuable resource for local agricultural businesses and will support future college-industry collaborations and help engage NSCC researchers and students in industry-driven applied research projects.