{"id":111526,"date":"2026-09-14T15:43:46","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T19:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=111526"},"modified":"2026-09-14T17:10:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T21:10:26","slug":"strengthening-greenhouse-technology-innovation-in-southern-ontario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2026\/09\/strengthening-greenhouse-technology-innovation-in-southern-ontario\/","title":{"rendered":"Strengthening greenhouse technology innovation in southern Ontario"},"content":{"rendered":"

With grocery bills rising, \u00a0new Brock University research is advocating for more investment in innovative greenhouse technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf food security is a national priority, then greenhouse innovation must be a national priority, too,\u201d says Professor of Political Science Charles Conteh, adding that food affordability, supply chain disruptions, climate change and the capacity to produce food domestically are growing concerns for many Canadians.<\/p>\n

Conteh has co-authored a new Niagara Community Observatory<\/a> (NCO) policy brief exploring the greenhouse innovation service-delivery ecosystem in southern Ontario. This area, which includes Niagara, is \u201cone of the most important greenhouse production regions\u201d in Canada, Conteh says, and plays a \u201ccritical role\u201d in supplying fresh vegetables and other food products year-round.<\/p>\n

The policy brief maps out relationships and processes among agricultural intermediaries, with the goal of understanding how these organizations support the development and adoption of greenhouse technology.<\/p>\n

Intermediary organizations include individual growers, industry associations, technology providers, government agencies, researchers and postsecondary institutions, including Brock University and Niagara College.<\/p>\n

For instance, agricultural organizations reach out to colleges and universities to develop research capacity, talent and infrastructure, while government agencies such as the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario provide funding, regulation and policy direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found that all these connections are essential to translating new ideas into practical solutions for growers,\u201d says Conteh. \u201cAs Canada looks for ways to strengthen food security and resilience, investing in and better coordinating these innovation networks is just as important as investing in food production itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conteh and co-authors Associate Professor of Recreation and Leisure Studies Martha Barnes and NCO Research Coordinator Carol Phillips surveyed approximately three dozen agricultural organizations, asking them questions about their organizations and others they collaborated with in nine areas of innovation.<\/p>\n

The survey results showed organizations most closely collaborate with one another when supporting or conducting upstream research and development or early-stage research; validating and prototyping new or improved technologies; and mobilizing or commercializing new or improved technologies.<\/p>\n

There was less co-operation with helping farmers and businesses adopt new technologies, connecting technology developers to end users in the network, and sharing data, technologies and information on regulations and workplace safety.<\/p>\n

Overall, the researchers\u2019 analysis shows the network of organizations involved in southern Ontario\u2019s greenhouse innovation system is generally fragmented, competitive rather than co-operative and is constrained by funding shortfalls and cultural and institutional barriers, says Conteh.<\/p>\n

\u201cFood security is not just about growing more food,\u201d says Conteh. \u201cIt’s also about building the innovation systems that position producers to adopt new technologies, improve productivity, respond to environmental challenges and remain globally competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n

To strengthen southern Ontario\u2019s greenhouse innovation system, the team recommends:<\/p>\n