Reference number : GC-2017-Q4-00869, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Jones, Andrew (University of Guelph), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : Ontario, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Idea to Innovation, program name french : De l'idée à l'innovation, program purpose english : Micropropagation uses plant tissue culture to rapidly multiply plants in sterile and well-defined conditions._x000D_
This is used to propagate approximately 1 billion plants per year and forms the basis of clean plant programs_x000D_
around the world. Canada is currently developing a national clean plant system that will certify plants are_x000D_
virus/disease free for a variety of crops to limit the spread of pests/disease and facilitate international export._x000D_
The main factor limiting the use of micropropagation, especially in developed countries, is the high labour_x000D_
requirements of this technique that make increased efficiency critical to sustain/grow the industry._x000D_
Despite the widespread use of micropropagation, the basic systems have not changed much since being_x000D_
developed decades ago and several long-standing problems inherent in the design remain. A novel modular_x000D_
micropropagation system was recently designed and produced using 3D printing in Dr. Jones' CFI-funded lab._x000D_
The vessel contains internal channels and abutments that can integrate various inserts/components to regulate_x000D_
the internal environment to address several common problems with micropropagation. The developed modules_x000D_
include 1) improved lighting with better uniformity/control that allows vessels to be stacked for increased_x000D_
production efficiency, 2) passive regulation of CO2 and humidity levels for optimal plant growth, 3) passive_x000D_
liquid culture to facilitate practical liquid based micropropagation, 4) a liquid in vitro rooting module to reduce_x000D_
labour and improve plant health, and 5) a micro-rocker system to enable this technology to be used in a_x000D_
modular fashion to enable gradual expansion. Several modules have been prototyped and 2 provisional patents_x000D_
have been submitted. To date the modules have been produced using 3D printing, but this technique is not_x000D_
suitable for commercial scale manufacturing. The objectives of this project will be to evaluate the prototype_x000D_
system in a commercial setting, use their feedback to refine the modules, and establish commercial scale_x000D_
manufacturing capacity. This critical step will transition the system from a demonstrated prototype to a viable_x000D_
product ready for commercialization., program purpose french : Micropropagation uses plant tissue culture to rapidly multiply plants in sterile and well-defined conditions._x000D_
This is used to propagate approximately 1 billion plants per year and forms the basis of clean plant programs_x000D_
around the world. Canada is currently developing a national clean plant system that will certify plants are_x000D_
virus/disease free for a variety of crops to limit the spread of pests/disease and facilitate international export._x000D_
The main factor limiting the use of micropropagation, especially in developed countries, is the high labour_x000D_
requirements of this technique that make increased efficiency critical to sustain/grow the industry._x000D_
Despite the widespread use of micropropagation, the basic systems have not changed much since being_x000D_
developed decades ago and several long-standing problems inherent in the design remain. A novel modular_x000D_
micropropagation system was recently designed and produced using 3D printing in Dr. Jones' CFI-funded lab._x000D_
The vessel contains internal channels and abutments that can integrate various inserts/components to regulate_x000D_
the internal environment to address several common problems with micropropagation. The developed modules_x000D_
include 1) improved lighting with better uniformity/control that allows vessels to be stacked for increased_x000D_
production efficiency, 2) passive regulation of CO2 and humidity levels for optimal plant growth, 3) passive_x000D_
liquid culture to facilitate practical liquid based micropropagation, 4) a liquid in vitro rooting module to reduce_x000D_
labour and improve plant health, and 5) a micro-rocker system to enable this technology to be used in a_x000D_
modular fashion to enable gradual expansion. Several modules have been prototyped and 2 provisional patents_x000D_
have been submitted. To date the modules have been produced using 3D printing, but this technique is not_x000D_
suitable for commercial scale manufacturing. The objectives of this project will be to evaluate the prototype_x000D_
system in a commercial setting, use their feedback to refine the modules, and establish commercial scale_x000D_
manufacturing capacity. This critical step will transition the system from a demonstrated prototype to a viable_x000D_
product ready for commercialization., agreement title english : Development of a modular micropropagation system for commercial plant propagation, agreement title french : Development of a modular micropropagation system for commercial plant propagation, agreement number : I2IPJ, agreement value : 125000.0, agreement start date : 2018-01-10, 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