Canadian farmers, long adept at navigating the mercurial nature of weather, excel in adapting to and strategically planning for nature's challenges. However, the escalating severity of climate change-induced weather events is complicating the practice of agriculture like never before — with no sign of slowing down.
How can we ensure sustainable produce for a growing population under increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather conditions? Game-changing research from Ivey Professor Joshua Pearce suggests a compelling answer: bring the produce indoors.
Introducing: The Agrivoltaic Agrotunnel
Recognizing extreme weather’s toll on agriculture, Pearce, a professor of Sustainability and Entrepreneurship at Ivey and the John M. Thompson Chair in Information Technology and Innovation at Western University, leveraged his solar energy expertise to innovate a scalable, accessible, and eco-friendly solution. Pearce and his team’s creation, the world’s first Agrovoltaic Agrotunnel, combines photovoltaics – such as solar panels – with both indoor and outdoor farming, fostering a greater sense of food security and more resilient agricultural future.
“The ultimate goal of the Agrivoltaic Agrotunnel is to provide locally-grown food all year-round, so we have a secure food supply – whether you’re in the far north of Canada or here in London,” said Pearce.
A combination of the terms “agriculture” and “photovoltaics,” agrivoltaics is a globally adopted practice that uses solar panels to generate energy, while also shielding outdoor plants from harsh weather. This dual function creates an optimal growing microclimate that conserves water and prevents heat stress for outdoor crops, while also generating sufficient electricity to power lights, water pumps, and heat pumps within the Agrotunnel.
Situated in Ilderton, Ontario, the world’s first Agrivoltaic Agrotunnel is a compact, mobile unit that uses vertical farming and aeroponics/hydroponics to grow a diverse range of produce. Initially backed by a $1- million grant from the Homegrown Innovation Challenge, funded by the Weston Family Foundation and Carbon Solutions @ Western, Pearce and team began by testing the year-round viability of strawberry cultivation. Having success, the diversity of produce expanded to include microgreens and salad greens, with ongoing experiments introducing new crops, such as carrots, onions, and potatoes.
Eco-armour for the fields
With agrivoltaics yielding impressive global results, Pearce is confident it’s the future of farming. Yet, while this method buffers crops against many climate challenges, it doesn’t completely counter extreme weather. It’s here that Pearce sees the Agrotunnel as a critical solution.
“As climate change makes it more and more difficult to do conventional farming, this gives us a practical way to provide food for our growing population,” he said.
Beyond shielding crops from the elements, the Agrotunnel offers numerous benefits. Its compact, mobile design allows placement almost anywhere, providing a hyper-local food source. Additionally, it's a zero-energy structure that maximizes land use — a mere 1,000-square-foot area yields the productivity of 10 acres of traditional farming.
Designed to enhance food security, the Agrotunnel features multiple walls, each with 720 ports, allowing a diverse array of crops to grow independently. This design both facilitates varied cultivation and acts as a protective measure. In the event of contamination, only the affected wall is impacted, safeguarding remaining crops from widespread damage.
“This really could solve a lot of problems,” said Pearce.
Finally, the Agrotunnel offers reliable year-round food security. By managing costs within a controlled environment, it ensures stable crop prices regardless of the season, offering potential cost-savings to consumers. Pearce finds this aspect particularly appealing and aims to bring agrotunnels to Canada’s far north. There, they could slash diesel consumption and make fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable.
“Our northern citizens are currently paying $5 per potato,” said Pearce. “I am very confident I can beat that with the Agrotunnel.”
Investing in tomorrow
Barring catastrophic events, Pearce remains confident in the Agrotunnel’s viability.
“These tunnels are going to work, no matter what. As long as we have some sunlight to hit the panels, we have the energy we need to run the buildings,” he said.
A recent study corroborates his optimistic outlook.
Inspired by their product's potential, Pearce and team are actively pursuing partnerships to introduce these structures into new communities in Canada. With the support of industry partner Food Security Structures Canada, deploying more agrotunnels will help enhance data on their economic benefits for farmers and the return on investment for investors. Ideal partners are those already in the agriculture sector, looking to expand operations or optimize underutilized land.
“If you have poor soil in a location, or a large parking lot – or even a medium-sized one – a couple of car spaces can produce another source of revenue that goes year-round,” he said.
Farming the final frontier
With a visionary gaze on the future, Pearce and team are exploring further applications of the Agrotunnel, including its potential to revolutionize farming beyond Earth. Leveraging only sunlight to function, these innovative structures could one day enable agriculture on the moon or other planets – offering an "out-of-this-world" approach to enhancing global food security and sustainability throughout the cosmos.
Cultivate your learning about the world’s first Agrivoltaic Agrotunnel via its Home Grown Challenge report.
