Canadore College’s grow-pod already showing signs of success
Dec 12, 2022
Canadore College is one of 10 sites across Canada helping to develop a network of Campus Living Labs that showcase ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) chose Canadore to participate in its ImpAct Climate Project, and the College’s focus is on food security for rural and Indigenous communities and solutions to divert GHG through the displacement of fossil fuels.
“The project was selected due to necessity,” said Jesse Russell, Canadore’s Sustainable Development Project Leader. “For some rural communities, fresh produce is either overpriced, lacks quality, or is difficult to obtain.”
Canadore’s investment in the sustainable food development site -- the Controlled Environment Agriculture Centre of Excellence – is already producing herbs for the College’s on-campus dining room, 100 Elements. In addition, the grow pods are being used in applied research focusing on food grown in different environments using evolving technologies and hybrid growing methods. The pod is climate resistant, operates off grid 24 hours a day, and will have the capacity to produce approximately 30,000 pounds of food a year.
“This is a great opportunity for remote and Indigenous communities looking to grow food closer to home throughout the year. Produce from the pod is delivered on foot rather than by refrigerated truck, thereby displacing the use of fossil fuels,” said Russell.
Canadore’s Living Lab project has three primary goals: to increase production of fresh produce for the College’s culinary programs; to confer with Indigenous communities to determine their needs; and to grow the produce that will be identified through that consultation.
CICan’s ImpAct Climate Project runs until April 2023, at which time the College hopes to use the project as evidence to expand its work on creating food sovereignty for rural and Indigenous communities.
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