Welcome to our weekly newsletter focusing on environmental trends and solutions driving us towards a more sustainable world. Hi, I’m Bridget. Encountering a food security project benefiting greenhouses’ environmental impact inspired me to delve deeper.
This week’s highlights include a Canadian company claiming to have developed a more eco-friendly greenhouse, discussions on rising flood costs, and tips for coping with Canada’s increasingly severe allergy seasons.
Benjamin Feagin Jr., raised in Ontario, co-founded AgriTech North with Fabian Velez to address food insecurity. Their patented greenhouse technology aims to offer a cheaper, environmentally friendly solution. The goal is to reduce the cost of produce in northern communities to urban levels.
AgriTech North’s innovative plastic greenhouse envelope significantly cuts winter heat loss compared to traditional glass structures. Their 10,000-square-foot unit in Dryden supports local businesses and provides fresh produce to over 1,000 families.
Unlike conventional greenhouses venting outdoors for temperature control, AgriTech North uses a sealed, efficient climate control system, reducing heat loss and pest intrusion. The design accounts for extreme weather conditions like -40°C winters in Dryden.
Despite positive feedback on the technology’s efficiency, funding remains a challenge for commercialization. AgriTech North aims to keep production and manufacturing in Canada.
In addressing Canada’s worsening allergy seasons, experts attribute the problem to climate change, leading to longer and more severe pollen seasons. Strategies to alleviate symptoms include avoidance measures, medications, and emerging treatments like desensitization therapies.
Understanding your allergy triggers is crucial for effective treatment. Seeking advice from allergists can help identify triggers and rule out underlying health issues mimicking allergy symptoms.
For more engaging content, tune in to our podcast and radio show exploring innovative climate fiction concepts, steering away from traditional dystopian narratives.
Stay updated with live weather conditions and explore our CBC News Climate Dashboard for comprehensive climate information.
Your feedback is invaluable. Share your thoughts, stories, and tips with us at whatonearth@cbc.ca. Get our newsletter every Thursday for the latest environmental insights.
Editors: Emily Chung and Hannah Hoag | Logo design: Sködt McNalty