FuelPositive announces advisor of global food security and partnership with University of Guelph

Canadian technology company, FuelPositive Corporation has announced it has signed an agreement with Lenore Newman of the University of Fraser Valley, naming her FuelPositive’s Global Food Security Advisor. As Director of the Food & Agriculture Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley, she is a leading researcher, author and past Canada Research Chair in Food Security. Newman researches agricultural land use policy, agricultural technology and bioengineering in the global food system.

At the same time, FuelPositive has also formed a partnership with the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility at the University of Guelph. The research facility’s work is focused on CEA, which includes greenhouses and vertical farming where plants are grown indoors. As a result of damage caused by climate change and the precariousness of traditional farming, many sustainable farming experts believe controlled environment agriculture will play a key role in feeding the billions of people on the planet in the coming decades.

“As a company dedicated to sustainability, reversing climate change and global food security, we are exploring opportunities and actively engaging with new partners who share our values," said  Ian Clifford, FuelPositive CEO and Board Chair. "Lenore and the team at the University of Guelph are perfectly aligned with us to help us make inroads into this exciting and critical area of agriculture.”

FuelPositive’s onsite, containerized green ammonia production systems would be able to provide nitrogen fertilizer for the highly controlled environments that are required for indoor plant-based agriculture while eliminating the greenhouse emissions associated with traditionally produced grey nitrogen fertilizers. The green ammonia output of FuelPositive’s systems could also be used for fossil fuel replacement, heating and cooling, dehumidification and even for water purification.

“I’m excited by FuelPositive‘s attention to controlled environment agriculture and the relationship with the team at the University of Guelph. In my work with automation systems and robotics over the years, I’ve had the gratification of designing innovative technologies to improve productivity and cost for the food industry in general, and also specifically for greenhouse applications. I look forward to our exploration into these crucial global food security markets with our innovative technology,” said Nelson Leite, Chief Operating Officer, FuelPositive.

At the University of Guelph, FuelPositive will be working with Michael Dixon, Professor and Director of the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility, as well as with Thomas Graham, Assistant Professor and PhytoGro Research Chair in Controlled Environment Systems.

“We are thrilled to be working with this team at the University of Guelph, which is known as ‘Canada’s Food University. Michael and Thomas are ideally positioned to assist us in setting up what we hope will be our first pilot project with a controlled environment agriculture partner. Our plan is to showcase how our technology is ideally suited to support it,” said Luna Clifford, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Alliances, FuelPositive.