Plant Sciences

We offer services to research, investigate, and develop new plant varieties or associated plant treatments such as herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers, or soil amendments/conditioners in the agricultural fields and greenhouse/growth chamber settings.  

We also offer plant pathology services for the evaluation of crop protection products and crop disease resistance genes. We also offer a full suite of molecular biology and toxicology services for the detection, identification, and quantification of pathogens in crops and materials.

Common testing includes: 

Yield Enhancement 

• Small plot field trials investigate agricultural techniques, methods, applications, and technologies that impact crop yield 
• Crop rotation studies 

Product Testing 

• Small plot field trials supporting new product development such as fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, biologicals, and soil conditioners 
• Ability to sow weed seeds with crops and/or inoculate crops with disease 

Varietal Testing 

• Field trials to evaluate varietal candidates, conduct regional varietal trials, and showcase new varieties 
• Proficient in disease screening new experimental lines, head-to-head comparisons with industry-standard varieties, and performance data compilation 

Specialized Crops 

• Advanced experience with specialty crops including industrial hemp, flax, fava bean, soybean, quinoa, lentil, Jerusalem artichoke 
  

Our experts understand that the key to improving yield, disease resistance, and environmental stress endurance is to have an in-depth knowledge of the genetics of the plant being studied.   

We can sequence, characterize, and map the genome of plants or agricultural communities, and more fully comprehend their interaction with the environment using transcriptomic, gene expression, or metagenomic studies. This work increases the profitability of agriculture and industrial plant production for our clients.  Understanding communities is the cornerstone of all environmental assessments and in those instances, we use environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to more fully assess and understand them. 

The common products we produce are Fusarium spp. on grain or in spore suspension, Rhizoctonia solani (various anastomosis groups (AG) types) on grain, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum ascospores, Leptosphaeria maculans pycnidiospore suspension, and various other grain-based inoculua, mycelial or spore suspensions.

Using a variety of techniques, we help clients evaluate and develop processes and products that reduce the risk from pathogenic organisms. 

We have worked on projects to enhance and evaluate cleaning process methodologies and tested products such as cleaners and disinfection systems. We are able to test directly against pathogens up to Biosafety Level 2 and can use recognized viral surrogates for human Biosafety Level 3 organisms such as SARS-CoV-2 (the COVID virus). 

Industrial Hemp & Cannabis Breeding, Processing & Utilization

InnoTech possesses a site-wide Health Canada license to conduct research into hemp and cannabis for industrial producers and operators. Please note, we do not conduct ad hoc testing for individuals. 

Our experts can run diverse trials and testing on industrial hemp fibre as well as low- and high-THC cannabis plants. Our knowledge of plant genomics and over a decade of experience have made us leaders in the enhancement, breeding, and productivity of the cannabis plant.