A state-of-the-art greenhouse, which is a key component for the Atlantic Canada Network on Bioactive Compounds (ACNBC), was officially opened today. The ACNBC, which investigates the health benefits of wild rosehips and wild blueberries, is a pan-Atlantic collaboration of independent researchers, universities, industry, and government agencies, centered within the Faculty of Science at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI).
Wild rose cuttings are grown in the greenhouse at UPEI. They are then planted in the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Experimental Farm in Harrington, PEI, in addition to other PEI, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick farming fields. Investigations are currently being conducted to study the best growth conditions to produce the rosehip fruit. Rosehips, like blueberries, are known to contain not only vitamins, but also compounds called antioxidants. Antioxidants are linked to the prevention and treatment of certain diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
“The research of the ACNBC was one of the first projects in the region to receive funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Atlantic Innovation Fund which is designed to assist with commercialization of new ideas,” said Shawn Murphy, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown. “The work of the ACNBC complements the growing focus on bioscience within the province.”
The overall objective of the project is to determine which strain of wild roses produces the most chemically valuable rosehips and, then, how farmers can grow these most efficiently.
“A project of this nature has led us to the creation of a research and development initiative within PEI Business Development / Technology PEI to support initiatives that involve both industry and academia in progressing research to the point of commercialization,” said Mike Currie, Minister of Development and Technology. “Anytime we can find value-added or alternative uses for underutilized land in PEI, we increase the value and efficiency of both our agricultural and bioscience communities.”
Operating conditions of the greenhouse which is attached to the Duffy Building on the UPEI campus are completely computer regulated. This includes parameters such as temperature, humidity, misting and shading. These controls can also be accessed remotely to allow consistent monitoring by staff. This modern facility will be used for the wild rosehip portion of the ACNBC’s research.
Dr. Roger Gordon, Chair of ACNBC, is enthusiastic about what the Greenhouse adds to the rosehips’ project. “This greenhouse will enable the kind of cutting-edge research to be carried out that is needed to develop wild roses as an alternative crop. In addition, it will provide a valuable training site for students and technicians at UPEI.”
Through the AIF, ACOA is contributing $2.7 million over five years to assist the ACNBC to carry out its mandate. The Department of Development and Technology, through PEI Business Development and Technology PEI, has invested $300,000. The project, which has a total cost of $3.4 million, is also supported financially by other non-government and government agencies as well as by the private sector.