Research profiles

An Acadia University graduate student is taking the gamble out of farming for Nova Scotia apple growers. Almost 10 percent of Canada’s annual apple crop (approximately 2.5 million bushels) comes from Nova Scotia. These crops can fluctuate considerably from year to year, resulting in a significant impact on the quality, value and bounty of the harvest, which in turn has financial implications for the farmers. With support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Government of Nova Scotia and the Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems Network Centre of Excellence (now known simply as MITACS), the researcher identified readily-available materials, like vinegar, that are compliant with organic growing standards, and which can be used to positively influence an apple tree’s production cycle. Field trials are now underway to identify optimum dosages and concentration levels.