Canada Funds Commercial Testing of SmartGRO’s Pulsed LED Lighting Technology
Canada announced research funding for pulsed LED grow lighting with plant sensors and AI, with commercial-scale validation still ahead.
In a September 8, 2026 government announcement, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada committed up to CAD 894,673 toward SmartGRO Bioengineering’s development and testing of indoor-agriculture lighting. The company’s approach combines fast-pulsed LED lighting with plant sensors and AI-based control.
The announcement says earlier controlled tests achieved equivalent harvest weight with up to 80% less electricity for the lighting system under the tested conditions. That figure is a reported experimental result and must not be generalized to a commercial vertical farm’s total energy use, which also includes air conditioning, dehumidification, pumps and other equipment.
Hydragreens Produce in Calgary is hosting planned commercial-scale testing, and the project involves additional research and industry collaborators. The funding supports development and validation; it does not prove the claimed savings have been replicated across commercial farms. The project is relevant to LED suppliers and indoor growers evaluating adaptive lighting strategies.
Original source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2026-09-08. https://www.canada.ca/en/agriculture-agri-food/news/2026/09/minister-macdonald-announces-up-to-nearly-895000-to-develop-and-test-new-clean-technology-to-benefit-canadas-indoor-agriculture-sector.html