https://www.sfu.ca/agritech-innovation/case-studies/nourish-labs.html
Modern agriculture is under increasing pressure to produce higher yields with fewer inputs, all while minimizing environmental impact. In response to these challenges, Nourish Labs is developing a precision fertigation system that leverages data analytics, machine learning, and advanced sensor technologies to optimize nutrient delivery in controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) greenhouses. This approach aims to reduce chemical usage while enhancing crop productivity and sustainability.
Despite having a compelling vision, Nourish Labs encountered a common challenge faced by many early-stage agritech companies: the need for specialized expertise in plant biochemistry and controlled-environment agriculture. Accessing the advanced facilities and scientific knowledge required for product development and validation can be difficult and expensive for startups. These barriers posed significant limitations to the rapid development and scaling of their technology.
A Strategic Partnership with BCCAI & UBC Okanagan
Enter SFU’s B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation (BCCAI), which connected Nourish Labs with Dr. Susan Murch at UBC Okanagan’s (UBCO) Plant Growth Facility. Alongside project funding by Pacific Economic Development Canada, the partnership offered:
Access to top-tier academic expertise
R&D facilities capable of controlled-environment trials
Professional project management and operational support
This strategic alliance became the engine that powered Nourish Labs out of the lab and into full-scale development.
Thanks to the close collaboration with academic researchers UBCO and the support from BCCAI, Nourish Labs was able to refine its fertigation technology to better align with crop-specific physiology and growth conditions. This partnership enabled the company to expand its market reach, adapt its solutions to a wider variety of crops, and generate stronger, evidence-based validation for its sustainable, precision-driven approach to agriculture.
As CEO Blake Ponuick noted, “BCCAI’s depth of relationships … walked us right into the door to institutions and partners that we just otherwise wouldn’t have access to.”
Results & Impact
The outcomes have been nothing short of transformative:
R&D Investment: CAD $263,000
Projected Revenue: CAD $2.8 million in just two years
High paying jobs created in the agriculture technology sector
Enhanced momentum in controlled environmental agriculture (CEA)
A Model for Agritech Innovation
The Nourish Labs case exemplifies the powerful synergy between academic insight, provincial investment, and entrepreneurial drive. By bridging the gap between research and commercialization, BCCAI isn’t just supporting one company—it’s laying the groundwork for entire ecosystems of agritech innovation in B.C. and beyond .
Armed with validated systems and real-world trials, Nourish Labs is now poised to scale across North America. With growing momentum in precision fertigation, the company is setting new standards in resource-efficient agriculture—and redefining what’s possible in greenhouse food production
