Advancing Whole-Chain Supply Integrity in Greenhouse Agriculture

This project aims to revolutionize greenhouse food production in Canada by integrating precision agriculture with the Whole-Chain International Standard for Supply Chain Integrity (WCIS-2025). Funded with a $30,000 grant from the Canadian Colleges for Resilient Recovery and Wawanesa Insurance, the initiative addresses the inefficiencies and environmental impacts of conventional greenhouse farming. By leveraging precision climate control, automated monitoring, and track-and-trace verification, the project will improve resource efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure full supply chain transparency.

In collaboration with greenhouse growers, the project will introduce data-driven practices to optimize irrigation, nutrient management, and energy use, thereby reducing input waste and operational expenses. A key component is the implementation of WCIS-2025 to certify sustainability compliance and enhance economic viability through improved market access. The project also focuses on food security by enabling year-round production of traceable, sustainably grown crops in controlled environments.

Led by Clarissa Gettigan, recognized as a climate champion by the funding organizations, and co-investigator Navdeep Singh, the project brings together interdisciplinary expertise and youth-driven innovation. It will be jointly implemented by the New Brunswick Community College (NBCC), in collaboration with the Institute of Innovation and Advanced Learning, under the guidance of Dr. Juan-Marcelo Gómez and Dr. Simon Potter, Director of the College Office of Research Enterprise (CORE) at NBCC.

Uniquely positioned as the first of its kind to align greenhouse operations with a standardized sustainability and traceability framework, the initiative sets a national precedent for climate-smart agriculture. The project is scheduled to continue through April 2026, with long-term goals of national expansion and lasting environmental, economic, and social impact.