Dr. Chandra Singh, Applied Research Chair in Agricultural Engineering and Technology. (Rob Olson Photography, Lethbridge College)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge College awarded more than $1.3 million in federal research funding

Jul 27, 2021 | 11:03 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge College has received one of the largest financial boosts in its history.

The post-secondary institution has gotten two grants from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), totalling over $1.3 million. $935,490 will go towards Dr. Chandra Singh’s work on the creation of the Advanced Post-Harvest Technology Centre, while $410,921 will be used for Mike McCready’s work in the Spatial Technologies Applied Research and Training (START) initiative.

The projects are funded through the CFI’s College-Industry Innovation Fund (CIIF). The fund supports productive partnerships between colleges and institutions in Canada, and businesses.

Dr. Samantha Lenci, Provost and Vice-President – Academics at Lethbridge College said, “we are thrilled to receive two of the largest financial grants in the history of our Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.”

“These grants acknowledge our expertise in the fields of post-harvest technology and virtual and augmented reality and will provide our researchers with a boost that will allow them to make a real difference for our industry partners.”

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The funding for the Post-Harvest Technology Centre will help address increasing global food demands. Lethbridge College stated that one-fifth of all food produced in Canada is avoidably lost or wasted during harvesting, packing, storing, handling, transporting and processing. The work of Dr. Singh applies technology to crops during the post-harvest period to help reduce food loss and wastage.

Dr. Singh, who serves as Applied Research Chair in Agricultural Engineering and Technology at Lethbridge College, said, “this research capacity is crucial for my research program in post-harvest storage and handling of grains, sugar beets and potatoes.”

“The proposed state-of-the-art facility in partnership with the agriculture industry will be unique in Alberta and will fill the much-needed research capacity gap in post-harvest research focused on Alberta crops.”

The funding will also help bridge a gap between industries and community organizations that could benefit from virtual or augmented reality technology, as well as the expertise to support them.

Mike McCready, the President’s Applied Research Chair in Virtual and Augmented Reality said the funding will allow the college to increase its VR/AR research with industry partners.

He said, “it will allow southern Alberta businesses to access advanced technology not readily available. This investment is a testament to the work done already and an indicator of how important it is.”

Mike McCready is photographed with the oculus quest. (Photo courtesy Lethbridge College)

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne stated that, “as we work together to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, we must also look at the next big challenges in front [of] us, with climate change at the top of the list.”

“The projects we are funding today will allow colleges to provide the tools researchers need to find solutions to these great challenges and develop the world-class talent businesses covet.”

As part of this CFI funding, 15 colleges across Canada are receiving grants for 16 research infrastructure projects, with a total of almost $17 million being distributed between the institutions. Lethbridge College is the only one to have multiple projects funded during this round of applications.