News

A showcase of innovation was held in the field on the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus last Thursday as part of the university’s inaugural innovation week.

Innovation Week aims to showcase ventures and innovations springing up across campus and the dynamic network of programming and support offered in the university entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.

“Innovation has been part of agriculture forever,” explained Dr. Heather Bruce, dean and campus principal.  “Farms of all shapes and sizes must innovate to survive- especially in today’s challenging environment. Our students are learning and engaging with world class researchers and industry partners and are contributing to solutions to problems in real time.”

Innovation showcases were spread throughout the Sustain by Cultiv8 garden on campus – a student-run vegetable and cut flower production farm on Pictou Road.   Cultiv8 is Dalhousie’s Agricultural Sandbox - a partnership the university has with the provincial government to build innovative competencies and grow entrepreneurial mindsets among its students.

“The Sustain vision is to become a vibrant hub of students, teachers, research, industry and community,” explained Jason Grant, Cultiv8’s manager. “Sustain matters because it models sustainable solutions for future farmers of the small, diverse farms which dominate Nova Scotia, Atlantic Canada, and much of the world.”

Showcase topics included digital and precision agriculture technology demos, healthy soil, sustainable livestock production systems, transforming fish waste into leafy gold, natural seed priming agents
and much more.

“Cultiv8 is a hub of innovation and inspiration. It not only brings together research and innovation with testing new efficient technologies and practices for a resilient, food-secure future, but also integrates entrepreneurship, collaboration, and community,” said Associate Dean Research (Acting) Dr. Stefanie Columbo. “The interdisciplinary nature of Cultiv8 fosters collaborations in agronomy, horticulture, soil science, engineering and more, which drives innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture.”

Baillie Lynds was one of several students and faculty members participating in the event.  Baillie is working to help improve nutrient use efficiency and crop resilience to climate change factors such as heat and drought and exploring the role of precision agriculture technologies in cropping systems. 

“Events like Innovation in the Field allow farmers and the community to glimpse the incredible research happening on our campus and discover innovations that can enhance their practices,” she said. “This dedication to agriculture inspired me to pursue a master’s degree and motivates my research,” she added.  “My goal is to support farmers through applied research that can help them reduce their environmental footprint without compromising yield, using advanced technologies such as enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers, while advocating for financial support to alleviate the increased costs of these solutions.”

Sustain by Cultiv8 is a community project, supported with community partnerships like the Community Credit Union and TD Canada Trust.  Sustain is also supported by alumni partners who have engaged through the university’s annual campaign appeals.