Brandon‑based researcher Dr. Poonam Singh has received $99,000 in federal funding to advance her work on developing more environmentally sustainable ways to grow greenhouse plants. The support comes through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, with nearly $20,000 in additional industry investment backing the project.
Singh, a faculty researcher in Assiniboine’s Russ Edwards School of Agriculture & Environment, is focused on reducing the horticulture sector’s reliance on peat moss, the primary growing material used for ornamental plants, nursery crops, and greenhouse food production. Peat is valued for its consistency, but harvesting it from peat bogs disrupts ecosystems that store carbon, regulate water, and support biodiversity.
Dr. Singh inspects her plants. Photo credit: Submitted by Assiniboine College
Her project, Exploring the potential of biochar and sheep wool waste in ornamental and nursery plant production, aims to identify greener alternatives that maintain strong plant performance while lowering environmental impact.
Biochar — a carbon‑rich material produced from organic waste such as wood chips and crop residue — will be tested as a partial peat replacement. Singh’s team will evaluate whether biochar made from cattails can improve water retention, nutrient availability, and soil structure while storing carbon in a stable form. The project will also examine sheep‑wool waste, which early trials suggest may support moisture retention and slow nutrient release, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.
Organic waste and wool fibres create a partial peat replacement.
Photo credit: Submitted by Assiniboine College
College leaders say the work reflects Assiniboine’s applied‑research model, which pairs faculty expertise with industry needs and hands‑on student involvement. Industry and community partners — including Carbon Lock Tech, the Manitoba Nursery Landscape Association, Canadian Co‑operative Wool Growers, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, and Vanderveen Greenhouse — will help test materials under real‑world growing conditions.
Singh says the goal isn’t to eliminate peat entirely, but to help growers make evidence‑based reductions that benefit both production and the environment. As the project progresses, findings will be shared with growers and industry partners to support broader adoption of sustainable growing practices.
