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How A Winnipeg Company Wants To Change Agriculture
Conviron has provided plant growth chambers and technology to the top government research agencies, universities and AgBiotech companies in over 90 countries around the world
Here are some other interesting tidbits about Conviron. Founded in 1964 by the Kroft family, CEL Group of Companies is headquartered in Winnipeg, MB. CEL comprises Conviron Canada, USA and Australasia. It also includes Argus Controls, a supplier of plant-centric environmental controls and automation systems used in greenhouse and indoor growing facilities.
Conviron has provided plant growth chambers and technology to the top government research agencies, universities and AgBiotech companies in over 90 countries around the world.
CEO Steve Kroft, often refers to his company’s solutions as 'weather in a box' because they mimic outside conditions and changing seasons over time through the automated control of temperature, light, humidity, irrigation and nutrients. In effect, it's a specialized type of high-tech greenhouse or indoor farm with environmental factors that can be precisely controlled.
The company has also delivered equipment to biotech companies like Medicago for the incubation and germination of tobacco plants critical for their research into plant-based vaccines for Ebola and SARs. Medicago recently announced it has produced a virus-like particle of the novel coronavirus, a first step towards producing a vaccine, which will now undergo preclinical testing.
Chambers range in size from six sq. ft. to over 2,000 sq. ft. depending on the application and includes lighting, temperature and humidity systems as well as a user-friendly control system to create and manipulate any kind of climate regime.
Argus Controls makes controlled environments for plant growth. It provides systems that automate the monitoring and controlling of all horticulture operations through on-site, remote and mobile interfaces.
Dating back to the early 1990s, Conviron has provided NASA with several chambers to support its research related to growing plants in outer space. The University of Guelph uses Conviron chambers and Argus controls systems in their high-tech facility in their research aligned with the Canadian Space Agency and International Space programs.
Since 2005, the National Science Foundation's Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica has been using an Argus control system to operate its food growth chamber that provides fresh vegetables and some much needed light, humidity and green space for the staff and scientists who winter at the station. The system operates the lighting, temperature control, and hydroponic nutrient feeding systems in the chamber, which is programmed and managed remotely from the University of Arizona.
Researchers at University College Dublin in Ireland can reconstruct prehistoric atmospheres using Conviron chambers and investigate plant evolution throughout Earth's history.
When canola was first developed in the 1970s, part of the research was done in Conviron chambers. Canola is the world’s only “Made in Canada” crop. In response to the ban of trans-fatty acids in food products, canola was developed by researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University of Manitoba in the 1970s, using traditional plant-breeding techniques.
Some of the turf used around the greens at Augusta National Golf Club was also developed in Conviron equipment.
Source: Economic Development Winnipeg.
Publication date: Fri 22 May 2020
US Kansas: America's First Industrial Hemp Classes For Farmers
Part of the new US Farm Bill approved in Congress makes industrial hemp legal across the country
By: Alex Meachum
December 28, 2018
Kansas - Part of the new US Farm Bill approved in Congress makes industrial hemp legal across the country.
Nick Starling shows us the classes now offered to help farmers learn about growing industrial hemp.
This is America's Hemp Academy, the first of its kind in our area where future hemp farmers can come here and learn the nuts and bolts of the crop that's used for thousands of different purposes including the flour that's in this cookie.
"This is right up our ally, it's going to give our family a new opportunity," said Margit Kaltenekker-Hall, future hemp farmer.
This field of opportunity is exactly what farmer Kaltenekker-Hall needs.
"We had a very successful oriental greenhouse business and then 2009 recession knocked that out, pretty much from right under our feet," Kaltenekker-Hall said.
She hopes growing hemp will turn their family's fortunes around.
"This has potential for our family to restore some of the productivity of this incredibly fertile soil," Kaltenekker-Hall said.
She's one of 12 farmers who already tried out the America's hemp academy.
"The amount of product from one seed is mind-boggling," said Jo Bisogno, founder and CEO of America's Hemp Academy.
Founder Jo Bisogno says he see this as Kansas's next big crop.
"I see an industry that's been around for 100's of years that went away now coming back," Bisogno said.
Bisogno says the demand for these classes is high-as they teach everything from seed to sale and connect them with suppliers.
Farmers say hemp is not as easy to grow as other crops.
"It is a very difficult, delicate plant and so it's not something you're just going to put in the ground and forget about it, it's going to require a lot of attention," said Ron Keith, Shawnee.
Shawnee farmer Ron Keith hopes to start planting in April.
"I have trees in my fields now so converting some of these tree farms into hemp farms is what I'm looking at," Keith said.
While it's not a new crop-they hope hemp's restored presence will mean more green in their wallets.
"Now that we can grow it again here, it has huge potential," Kaltenekker-Hall said.
Classes start on January 14.
Appleton, WI Greenhouse To Grow Industrial Hemp
It's industrial hemp, and it's growing in popularity in Wisconsin. And after an experimental growing season, an Appleton greenhouse is now making room to meet the expected demand.
by Eric Peterson, FOX 11 News
December 4, 2018 (WLUK/Eric Peterson)
APPLETON, Wis. (WLUK) -- It looks like marijuana, but it's not.
It's industrial hemp, and it's growing in popularity in Wisconsin.
And after an experimental growing season, an Appleton greenhouse is now making room to meet the expected demand.
For nearly a century, Memorial Florists & Greenhouses has grown plants of all kinds, but a new look at an old variety has president Bob Aykens very interested.
"They came in as cuttings, and they're in the process of being rooted and propagated," said Aykens, the business's president.
Aykens says through a lease agreement with Colorado-based company Front Range Biosciences, a 15,000 square foot greenhouse will soon grow hemp.
"Our production plan says 250,000 clones will go out of here for next spring," he said.
The greenhouse will be fitted with lights, a network of nozzles will spray the plants on a regular basis. Farmers will place their orders, and the hemp will be delivered from the bio-secure area to the producers in the field.
"I think to have that ability for a farmer to come in, and have the confidence of what they're planting, is is going to succeed, and prosper here in the state," said Rob Richard, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Senior Director of Governmental Relations.
Richard represents hemp farmers around the state. He says last year, there were more than 200 licensed producers. He calls the first season a success, and expects that number to grow.
Aykens agrees. He says a quarter of a million hemp plants is a good start.
"That probably won't meet the demand, I'm going to guess. But we'll be looking at expanding upon what those needs are, once we know what they are," said Aykens.
Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture Trade, and Consumer Protection oversees the hemp industry.
Industrial hemp licensing applications are available for the 2019 season. You have until the end of the year to apply.