The University of Windsor, well-known for superb engineering research programs, is using its strengths to take more of a position in agriculture. 

The university is increasingly finding a niche in greenhouse research and studies with industry, driven by a branded program called Agriculture at University of Windsor…or as it’s popularly known, AgUWin.

AgUWin, launched in 2023, was created in response to the region’s rapidly expanding agri-food and greenhouse sector — more than 4,500 acres locally, second only to the Netherlands, and expected to double. Dr. Shanthi Johnson, the university’s vice-president of research, describes AgUWin as an initiative aimed at developing the basic and applied research that will advance agriculture technologies and the growing systems to support national food security.

Johnson says agriculture and food represents about five per cent of the university’s overall research activity, double the amount since AgUWin was created. Drs. Rupp Carriveau from Civil and Environmental Engineering and Isabelle Barrette-Ng from the Department of Integrative Biology co-lead the strategy, supported by a group of 25–30 faculty members whose research interests and work align with agriculture, food and related innovation areas. 

Johnson says as much as 75 per cent of AgUWin’s work connects to horticulture, led largely by engineering and science researchers collaborating with industry experts who bring agronomic expertise. The university has partnered with major greenhouse and agriculture operations in Windsor-Essex such as JEM Farms, the horticulture innovation hub Biophi, and organizations such as the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada and the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG).

These partnerships further support the research and development of commercially viable research and technology in a live environment and enable experiential learning opportunities for students working closely with AgUWin’s partners locally and globally, says Johnson.

Richard Lee, executive director of OGVG, says his organization is bullish on the University of Windsor’s research and development efforts.

“Our partnership reflects a shared commitment to building a stronger, more competitive greenhouse sector, a sector that continues to deliver high-quality, sustainably grown food while driving economic growth and environmental stewardship across Ontario,” he says. “We think the University of Windsor is ideally positioned to support greenhouse work through the AgUWin program, robotics, and engineering faculty to support robotics, AI and our quest for sustainable alternate fuel sources.” 

Recent research being carried out through AgUWin includes autonomous robotic pollination in greenhouses and pioneering portable magnetic resonance imaging technology for plant health monitoring and early plant disease detection. A start-up company has also been launched called Anthea Technologies. It’s creating intelligent, high-performance sensor systems to detect pests and plant stresses using chemical signatures that identify problems at scale, before they become an issue.  

Johnson, who previously served as the Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta, says AgUWin is taking a holistic view of agriculture research. That includes agricultural economics, policy and the impact of development, as well as technology.  

For example, faculty members are working with Windsor-Essex-area migrant workers, communities and municipalities, on practice and policy issues including access to health and other support. And AgUWin is part of an application to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council with nine other universities and nine industry partners, to create specialized training and collaboration programs.

“AgUWin is a wonderful example of what’s possible when ecosystem partners come together to advance areas of shared strength and significance, like agriculture and food systems,” says Johnson. “We see agriculture research as an emerging strength at the University of Windsor based on the interest and activity from our faculty and our partners.”