Can LEDs Help Grow Food in Canada’s North?

Science LED Food

 

 

June 06 2016

LED-based technology originally conceived to help feed astronauts in space may help grow fresh fruits and vegetables in Canada’s north, according to a recent Toronto Star article by Amy Pataki.

A sealed, stainless steel cube the size of a baker’s rack, with shelving and a glass roof through which LEDs shine would allow 24-hour growth 12 months a year in a region where high energy costs and virtually no sun for months on end limit the use of greenhouses.

Using LEDs to stimulate plant growth is already a success in 

• Japan, where strawberry growers tripled their yield using supplemental blue LEDs

• the Netherlands, where purple LEDs stimulate lettuce growth

• Kuwait, where LEDs help grow cherry tomatoes and cucumbers

For the Northern Farm Training Institute in Hay River, NWT, Norwegian lighting firm Intravision is customizing the spectrum for optimal photosynthesis. “We have to be careful,” Pataki quotes environmental biologist Mike Dixon, a University of Guelph professor and director of the school’s Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility. Dixon’s lab is working on the right colour “recipe” for each plant. “By adjusting the lighting, we can make the plants taste different. You don’t want a strawberry that tastes like a doughnut,” he told Pataki.

The proposed pilot project would grow six perishable foods — cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, lettuce and herbs — which now must be imported at great cost. It takes 12 days for strawberries to travel from Mexico to Yellowknife. Shipped-in food is expensive: bananas that cost about $1.25 a kilo in Toronto are $4.17 in Nunavut, writes Pataki. 

Thirty of the stainless steel prototypes cost about $2 million to build.

Read the original article: https://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/restaurants/2016/05/06/how-space-technology-is-helping-canadians-boldly-grow-where-no-one-has-grown-before.html.

 

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Contact Delage & Solvic Announce New Representation Partnership

    New Collaboration – A New Solar Lighting Manufacturer Joins Contact Delage’s Offerings

    Contact Delage is excited to announce the addition of a new trusted partner to their lineup: Solvic, an innovative manufacturer specializing in solar lighting. This new partnership reflects Contact Delage’s ongoing commitment to offering sustainable, high-performance solutions tailored to real-world applications. With Solvic, they are expanding their range of autonomous solar products—perfect for lighting streets, parks,… Read More…

  • July 10, 2025 - Mac’s II Agencies Announce Addition to Project & Specification Sales Team

    Mac’s II Agencies Announces Addition to Project & Specification Sales Team

    Mac’s II Agencies is pleased to announce that Drazen Jerkovic will be joining their Project & Specification Sales team in the Lighting Division later this fall. With over 25 years of experience in the lighting and electrical industry, Drazen is a highly respected consultant known for his technical knowledge and deep understanding of project delivery. His recent role… Read More…


Design


New Products

  • Prolux: Lumithree PT-1016 Glass Diffuser Pendant

    Prolux: Lumithree PT-1016 Glass Diffuser Pendant

    The PT-1016 is a glass diffuser that can be mounted in any room to provide an elegant touch. The diffuser comes in several translucent finishes to match any decor, and the hardware is available in a variety of powder-coated colours. Lumithree’s quality decorative lighting solutions offer their customers a diverse range of unique and flexible… Read More…

  • Magic Lite: Tri-Proof Lights

    Magic Lite: Tri-Proof Lights

    Tri-Proof Lights are a durable lighting solution that can replace traditional linear fluorescent luminaires. Tri-Proof Lights are designed for a variety of applications requiring, dust-, moisture- and impact-resistance. Suitable environments such as corridors, stairwells, warehouses, parking garages and car washes allows this versatile fixture in a variety of applications. Read More…