NSAC working to sustain the Christmas Tree Industry in Atlantic Canada

NSAC’S Dr. Raj Lada, driven by a commitment to rural sustainability, is providing support and research to sustain the Christmas tree industry in the region. Lada has established the first, national Christmas tree Research Centre (CRC) at the Bible Hill university.

“The Christmas tree industry is being challenged by issues that, if unresolved, could result in a devastating loss of business and community in the Atlantic region,” explained Lada.

At the CRC, Lada and his team develop products and technologies to enhance needle retention as well as produce what they call a “SMART Balsam”, which epitomizes an ideal tree - full, sturdy architecture, unique fragrance, blue-green needles, retains its needles for up to three months or more and is pest free.

“Solutions need to be found to increase both needle retention and the public’s interest in purchasing a real tree instead of an artificial one,” he added. “If they are not, the Christmas tree industry in Atlantic Canada will surely suffer.”

Researchers at the CRC will study needle retention as their main focus to understand and intercept the hormone that triggers needle drop. They already know trees are susceptible to stress and are quite likely to drop their needles during stress and aggressive physical movements, some of which are regularly used in the selling of trees such as dragging, shaking, baling and transporting. They have also discovered that LED lighting with a certain wavelength spectrum can delay needle drop.

Lada has also established the Atlantic Christmas Tree Research and Development Consortium to open communication and discussion among researchers in various universities, those working in the industry and Atlantic provincial government departments.

In the New Year, Lada will relocate his $6 million research program to AgriTECH Park – the university’s commercialization wing. AgriTECH Park provides a fertile environment necessary to grow and develop innovative bio-economy products, services & technologies within the agri-food, marine & environmental sectors.

“I am very pleased to lead researchers and those working in the industry through this process as well as to be part of the change myself,” said Lada.

Lada has been awarded several grants and research support through national, regional and provincial funding agencies including Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency – Atlantic Innovation Fund, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, AgriFutures – Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food, NB Growing Forward, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia and Smart Christmas Tree Research Cooperatives Limited.

NSAC is a specialized university that cultivates learning and research, focusing on improving and sustaining our environment for the health and well-being of society.

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For more information contact Stephanie Rogers at (902) 893-7247 or by e-mail at srogers@nsac.ca