Reference number : GC-2017-Q4-00024, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Ahmad, Rafiq (University of Alberta), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Alberta, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Grants for universities, program name french : Subventions d'engagement partenarial pour les universités, program purpose english : In a growing sector with a $1.17 billion farm gate value, the development of greenhouse vegetables in Alberta_x000D_
only represents a 4% of the greenhouse vegetable production in Canada. This results into a situation where_x000D_
there still exists an opportunity to deliver significant benefits to the food industry in Canada through extensive_x000D_
research. The proposed research project tackles the most labor intensive and critical component of modern_x000D_
semiautomatic farms and addresses a key issue in the semi-automatic food industry: the racking process. For_x000D_
indoor farms, where space is limited, the racking system determines not only the production rate of the farm_x000D_
but also the quality of the products leaving the facility. However, the concepts behind "industry 4.0" have yet to_x000D_
be implemented in most industries that are not related to digital manufacturing. The automation of such a key_x000D_
component in the factory will suppose a big step forward in the upcoming revolution for the food industry._x000D_
While RFID technology, biosensors or even robotics have been proven to possibly been implemented, the food_x000D_
industry has not taken to the technology with the same pace as other industries, i.e. automotive. The proposed_x000D_
project will be a step towards securing an important relationship between the UofA researcher in sustainable_x000D_
automation of the local food industry. The project will result in training of HQPs, generate know-how related_x000D_
to automation and industry 4.0, as well as strengthen the industry-academic partnership resulting in innovative_x000D_
research and applied industry specific solutions., program purpose french : In a growing sector with a $1.17 billion farm gate value, the development of greenhouse vegetables in Alberta_x000D_
only represents a 4% of the greenhouse vegetable production in Canada. This results into a situation where_x000D_
there still exists an opportunity to deliver significant benefits to the food industry in Canada through extensive_x000D_
research. The proposed research project tackles the most labor intensive and critical component of modern_x000D_
semiautomatic farms and addresses a key issue in the semi-automatic food industry: the racking process. For_x000D_
indoor farms, where space is limited, the racking system determines not only the production rate of the farm_x000D_
but also the quality of the products leaving the facility. However, the concepts behind "industry 4.0" have yet to_x000D_
be implemented in most industries that are not related to digital manufacturing. The automation of such a key_x000D_
component in the factory will suppose a big step forward in the upcoming revolution for the food industry._x000D_
While RFID technology, biosensors or even robotics have been proven to possibly been implemented, the food_x000D_
industry has not taken to the technology with the same pace as other industries, i.e. automotive. The proposed_x000D_
project will be a step towards securing an important relationship between the UofA researcher in sustainable_x000D_
automation of the local food industry. The project will result in training of HQPs, generate know-how related_x000D_
to automation and industry 4.0, as well as strengthen the industry-academic partnership resulting in innovative_x000D_
research and applied industry specific solutions., agreement title english : Intelligent Racking System Design for the Growing process of future NutraPonics Facility, agreement title french : Intelligent Racking System Design for the Growing process of future NutraPonics Facility, agreement number : EGP, agreement value : 25000.0, agreement start date : 2018-03-07, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)., additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019)., owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada