Collaborative research results in more consistent apple crop

An Acadia University graduate student has gotten to the core of an issue that has challenged Nova Scotia’s apple growers for years.

Miriam Ferrer, a post-doctoral fellow in the department of biology, has discovered a way to help local fruit producers achieve a more consistent yearly production of organic apples while meeting stringent industry standards nationally and internationally.

The challenge faced by Nova Scotia apple growers – who produce an average of 2.5 million bushels of apples a year, or about nine per cent of Canada’s annual apple crop – is that apple trees tend to fluctuate between years of high production and low production, affecting the quality, value and bounty of the crop. While chemicals can be used to limit this swing, they are incompatible with the organic growing standards demanded by today’s consumer.

Through a unique internship program created by MITACS – a national network that brings together researchers and companies in a collaborative effort to solve problems of key importance to society and industry – Ferrer was connected several years ago with the Nova Scotia Fruit Growers’ Association (NSFGA), an organization that fosters the growth and development of an economically-viable and sustainable Nova Scotia tree fruit industry.

After speaking with local farmers, Ferrer, in partnership with the Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre in Kentville, tested a variety of organic materials readily available in the grocery store (including egg whites, vinegar and cream of tartar), the environment (seawater) and the local farm supply store to determine if any could influence the apple tree production cycle.

She managed to identify five materials – naturally occurring minerals – which, when applied to the branches of the Honeycrisp apple tree, encourage the tree to produce high-quality, abundant apples year-to-year.



Great to move research out of the lab: Ferrer

“It was great to have the opportunity to move my research out of the lab and work a project which is very applied,” Ferrer said. “Coming from Mexico, I know how important agriculture is to the local economy. It is rewarding to know that my research could positively impact Nova Scotia’s apple industry.”

Supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the government of Nova Scotia, the MITACS Internship Program is a unique initiative that moves Nova Scotia graduate students out of the classroom and into the workplace, giving them hands-on opportunities to apply their research skills toward important industry issues.

The program benefits the students, who gain valuable practical experience, and the partner organizations, which receive a unique skill set and connection with the province’s up-and-coming research talent.

The cost of a four-month internship is shared by the organization and MITACS – through the support of funding partners – with each providing $7,500.

“Connecting with the MITACS Internship Program to co-fund Miriam’s research project not only resulted in important steps toward Nova Scotia’s apple growers achieving strong organic yields, but it facilitated a deepening relationship between the university and agricultural communities,” said Dela Erith, NSFGA executive director. “This can only serve to strengthen this multi-million dollar industry.”

Next steps include a second MITACS internship starting this month in which Ferrer – under the supervision of Dr. Sara Good-Avila, assistant professor of biology at Acadia - will conduct a larger field trial of the identified materials to better understand how much of each material should ideally be used, and in what concentration. She hopes the end result will be a new organic “made-in-Nova-Scotia” product available to apple farmers around the world.

Recent Acadia biology graduate Bethany Thurber will assist.

“Nova Scotia’s young researchers are an invaluable asset,” said Dr. Arvind Gupta, scientific director of MITACS. “This project is just one example of the type of positive impact which the connections resulting from the MITACS Internship Program are having on the Nova Scotia economy.”

“The government of Canada is committed to supporting research and development that builds a more competitive economy and not only attracts new talent, but also keeps our own talent in Atlantic Canada," said Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

“We recognize that increasing investments in R&D is crucial for the long-term competitiveness of the region. This project is a perfect example of how great ideas can be turned into commercialized goods and services.”



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