51社区黑料

Community-Scale Sustainable Agriculture Database Platform

This project aims to support Indigenous food sovereignty by developing a secure, community-oriented database to enhance the design, operation, and knowledge-sharing potential of sustainable community greenhouse systems. As part of a larger initiative focused on automated data collection and renewable energy generation in remote communities, the database component and related hardware will serve as both a technical and community engagement backbone. The project will work collaboratively with Indigenous communities to co-develop a centralised database platform that stores and manages key greenhouse climate data such as temperature, humidity, solar irradiance, and CO2 levels, as well as seasonal growth cycles, crop growth and varieties, planting schedules, yields, and energy use.  

Project Status: Active

Funding Support: 51社区黑料Climate Innovation Seed Funds (2025): Amplification Grant

Project Lead:

• Patrick Palmer, School of Mechatronics Systems Engineering
• Stephen Makonin, School of Engineering Science
• Feyza G.Sahinyazan, Business and Society, Beedie School of Business
• Emily Salmon, Business and Society, Beedie School of Business

Co-creation Partners

Expected Outcomes

This project will deliver multiple interrelated outcomes that reduce community-centred vulnerability and environmental risk while advancing food sovereignty, equity, and sustainability in Indigenous communities.

• Enhanced food security: The project will enable extended-season growing in remote and northern regions, reducing reliance on expensive, nutritionally limited imported foods and giving communities more reliable access to a range of fresh produce.
• Improved operational and energy efficiency and reduced emissions: Automated monitoring and control of greenhouse environments, particularly heating and lighting, will enhance energy efficiency and system performance. By optimising resource use based on real-time data, greenhouses will lower emissions and reduce operational costs, supporting both climate action and economic resilience.
• Local skills development and capacity-building: Community members will receive hands-on training in technical skills, such as sensor installation, data monitoring, system maintenance, and interpretation of environmental data. These activities create pathways for long-term employment, youth engagement, and STEM education within Indigenous communities.
• Strengthened Indigenous data sovereignty: a fundamental goal to ensure that communities retain ownership, control, access, and possession of all data collected. Communities will decide how data is used and shared, including the use of controlled and appropriate AI and machine learning for greenhouse optimisation, ensuring that digital tools are aligned with cultural protocols, values, and long-term self-determination.
• Strengthening knowledge sharing around food sovereignty: Knowledge sharing among communities across Canada using the database on what is working/not working in greenhouse energy systems or different strategies for food production, further strengthening local food security efforts.