Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2021-2022).

The NAIT Boreal Research Institute (BRI) project 'Plant and Seed Technologies for Boreal Reclamation andx000D
Reforestation' introduces technologies and systems which, when tested and deployed, will accelerate thex000D
establishment of young forests on industrial sites. Working with 10 industry and small-and-medium-sizedx000D
enterprise (SME) partners, BRI will develop seed products, technologies, methods, and equipment for thex000D
broadcasting and establishment of boreal plants and seed (P&S) onto large-scale sites (e.g., in situ and surfacex000D
mining), problematic industrial sites (e.g., high saline and oil spill sites), and irregular sites (e.g. buffers,x000D
corridors, log lay-downs, steep slopes). Innovative seed products and broadcasting tools will enable the promptx000D
covering of industrial sites with native, boreal forbs and shrubs. This ecologically-based approach will preventx000D
the invasion of weeds and other undesirable species on freshly prepared industrial sites. In turn, P&Sx000D
technologies are expected to reduce the need and high costs of chemical herbicides. Building upon BRI'sx000D
preliminary laboratory and greenhouse trials of priming and pelleting and the nano-coating of seeds, the projectx000D
focuses on field applications through the operational testing of seed products and the development of practicalx000D
seed broadcasting tools and equipment. These new and adaptive technologies will provide industry and SMEsx000D
with cost-effective and versatile tools for reliable plant establishment and ecological resiliency. The projectx000D
will spur the market adoption of technologies through the training of a projected 460 field practitioners andx000D
supports for the commercialization of P&S technologies. Regional innovations (e.g., Northwest Alberta P&Sx000D
consortium and Shrub Seed Orchard) will strengthen the industry-business supply chain, ultimately drivingx000D
SME competitiveness and diversification. The research program will train over 426 post-secondary and Firstx000D
Nations students in field-ready scientific, equipment, research and professional skills to prepare them forx000D
employment throughout Alberta and Canada.