A Vancouver-based maker of agriculture technology this month received capital from the federal government through the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada.
QuantoTech Solutions received $750,000 through PacifiCan’s Jobs and Growth Fund.
The company’s vision started through a love of indoor farming forged due to long, cold winters in Alberta.
The firm was established in Lethbridge by father-daughter duo Peter and Alycia van Der Gracht in 2012 with a goal to develop technology that allows for the growth of hyper-fresh and hyper-local produce on any scale—even in tough conditions.
Today, the QuantoTech team designs the lights, hydroponics, climate control, monitoring, and control systems in-house in Vancouver and manufacturers their products locally in British Columbia.
A member of BC’s Cleantech Supercluster, QuantoTech has patents pending on vertically staged grow systems for horticulture and has also developed internet-enabled plant monitoring and tracking for its systems.
The company’s hydroponic shelving system takes a traditional grow layout and renders it vertical, optimizing growing area and increasing output.
The solution, originally developed to work in northern latitudes and at challenging sites, can be applied to any grow situation, the company says.
Fresh federal funding will help QuantoTech expand its vertical farm operation to grow a wider variety of crops including basil, parsley, and Swiss chard, according to a recent statement.
The government capital will also allow the firm to scale up a new farming facility in Vancouver to supply regional customers with fresh, locally sourced produce.
“We’re investing in the success of . . . innovative Vancouver companies so they can scale up and go global,” stated Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development. “This world-class city is home to some of our best and brightest who are pushing the boundaries in so many different exciting sectors and we’re going to bring this talent around the world.”
For years, QuantoTech has been contributing to Canada’s food-chain resilience and stands among the nation’s upstarts working toward a more sustainable future.
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