A research scientist at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) has been awarded a $540,000 grant to study how the innovative use of LED lighting can enhance greenhouse strawberry production.
“Due to climate change and extreme weather, growers are increasingly looking at indoor production,” says Li Ma, a researcher at KPU’s Institute for Sustainable Horticulture (ISH). “LED technology has made significant strides in recent years, allowing us to tailor the lighting spectrum and intensity to meet the specific needs of crops throughout their growth cycle. This leads to healthier, fresher and better-quality fruit.”
The project, funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Mitacs, will enable the ISH to address the many challenges faced by greenhouse strawberry growers, particularly the need for precise light management. As Ma explains, each strawberry variety has a different response to light, and controlling the spectrum of light can influence the plant’s health, growth and resistance to pests.
“By using LED lighting systems that adapt to the plant’s needs, we can optimize growth and production while minimizing energy consumption,” says Ma, emphasizing that this new technology is expected to reduce maintenance costs by 75 percent and energy costs by 40 percent. “The goal is to make strawberry farming more sustainable and less reliant on imported products — reducing carbon emissions and enhancing our local food security.”
The three-year project involves collaboration with industry partners, including Sollum Technologies and Star Produce. A key component of this initiative is a focus on personnel training and student involvement. Jean-Mornay du Plessis, a student in the Diploma in Horticulture Technology program at KPU, performs weekly scouting for pests and checks drip and drain measurements to ensure the plants are well-hydrated.
“There are incredible facilities and equipment at the ISH,” says du Plessis. “I’m here to get more experimental, hands-on research experience because I plan to pursue a master’s degree.”
Ma says that the lighting recipes developed in this project can also be applied to the Homegrown Innovation Challenge—a six-year, $33-million competition aimed at extending the growing season of berries in Canada. ■
From left: KPU research team of horticulture student Jean-Mornay du Plessis, Dr. Li Ma, horticulture student Olivia Puszka, postdoctoral research scholar Sarah Murria and research technician Aria Tamanaei are studying LED lighting in strawberry production.