A St. John’s-based company that has developed an aeroponic appliance for growing herbs and vegetables indoors is receiving support from the Provincial Government to grow its business. The Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, today announced $146,531 for Aera Agriculture to support the development of its smart farming device known as Victory.
Aera’s goal is to revolutionize food production through automated aeroponic farming appliances. Victory is a fridge-sized appliance that uses innovative aeroponic technology allowing users to grow and maintain a consistent level of produce in a commercial setting. It can grow a wide variety of plants, from leafy greens to root vegetables, and it has software that includes a proprietary crop management system, remote access capabilities, and comprehensive dashboard analytics.
Aera’s first commercial product will be strategically aimed at restaurants, with a particular focus on mid-to-upscale independently owned restaurants encountering significant obstacles in sourcing affordable, high-quality fresh produce. Currently, Aera has secured commitments from five customers, comprising local restaurants within the St. John’s area to participate in trials of pre-production iterations of Aera’s smart farming appliances.
Leveraging the financial support provided by the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Aera will invest a further $163,118 for this project. In addition, the company is receiving advisory services and up to $57,168 in research and development funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to support growth trials using its smart farming appliance.
The Department of Industry, Energy and Technology offers programs to support research and development projects for both commercial and non-commercial applicants. These programs reduce the technical and financial risk of research and development projects where research and development is required to realize the commercial potential of innovative products, processes or services.
Quotes
“By bolstering local food production networks and supply chains while also mitigating negative environmental impacts of long-distance transportation, the technology being developed by Aera has the potential to make strong contributions to food security and quality in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons, KC
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology
“The Provincial Government supports a variety of innovative technologies such as vertical growing systems, new greenhouse designs and materials, and lighting and watering systems to help farmers expand growth in the hydroponics sector. We’re pleased to see support for another innovative initiative that improves hydroponic crop production practices and feasibility.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
“Commercial kitchens have long struggled with the availability, quality and cost of acquiring fresh produce. The Victory farm places food production inside restaurants, giving them full control over their food supply for less cost. Our novel technology grows more yield and variety than anything on the market, and this funding allows us to validate Victory in a restaurant setting as an easy-to-use appliance that provides access to fresh, secure, and sustainable produce all year long.”
Shawn Fisher
CEO and Founder, Aera Agriculture
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