Accelerating agri-innovation to address climate change challenges

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Climate change impacts are some of the most serious threats to agriculture globally. A new generation of agri-innovation companies are developing products to strengthen the sustainability of crop production and soil function to withstand and recover from major climate change weather events. In BC in 2021, an unprecedented chain of catastrophic climate events impacted agricultural production, supply chains and food security. This initiative is a response to these events. Its three themes will help accelerate the development of two classes of innovative agri-products which will help address climate change impacts. Microbial consortia and micro algae that support healthy soil and crops with potential to help damaged soils to recover from the flood event of 2021 will be field tested and in-depth analyses of the soil microbial community response and recovery will be studied. A second theme is designed to accelerate these natural products to market by developing a Regulatory Pathway protocol and document to help SMEs plan their research and development to ensure the requirements of regulatory bodies are met at appropriate times. A blended in-person and virtual workshop, and a recorded webinar will share the results of this theme with a broad range of industry members. KPU's ability to assist SMEs with their research and development needs related to regulatory requirements will be greatly enhanced. The third theme will accelerate non-microbial novel agri-tech innovations, including laser light treatments of seed and a biostimulant for its ability to improve the germination and early growth of several crop seeds. A second innovation will develop predictive disease models using IoT technology to make critical crop management available in real time to producers. In the first year, 7 industry partners will participate and the same number are expected to join the initiative in the second year. Three KPU faculty members, several research technicians and 12 students will be trained through participating in the research and knowledge transfer activities. EDI practices will ensure these opportunities are available equally to the broadest range of students possible and EDI training for both staff and students will one of the core activities. This initiative is expected to provide new practical tools to BC agricultural producers and additional tools will continue to become available as a result of the research activity and partnerships started with this project.