FEEDING
PROSPERITY
FEEDING
PROSPERITY
FEEDING
PROSPERITY
FEEDING
PROSPERITY
FEEDING PROSPERITY
Brian Peach
Amy Jones
It started with an email
When Brian Peach received Memorial’s 2017 President’s Report, he decided it required a response.
In his email to Dr. Gary Kachanoski, Mr. Peach referenced a “laundry list of ideas as to how we can leverage the energy of students in the university.” As the chief administrative officer for the Town of Baie Verte, and a Memorial alumnus, Mr. Peach believes community engagement is directly in line with the university’s mandate to support the social, cultural and economic health of the province.
“There are so many challenges in the public service in our corner of the world, and the wealth of mental energy and creativity of students could really help solve real world problems,” said Mr. Peach in his email. “If you can find a way to better connect the students with our very real challenges, the impact would be incredible.”
Since that email exchange in early 2018, the Baie Verte Peninsula has partnered with Memorial’s Harris Centre for Regional Policy and Development on a series of Thriving Regions projects. Thriving Regions engages people in communities around the province in order to address challenges and opportunities, and provides funding for Memorial students, faculty and staff to conduct research that can help communities with their priorities. The project is funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation.
Amy Jones, knowledge mobilization co-ordinator, Harris Centre, says the Thriving Regions partnership process provides an excellent opportunity for the university to collaborate with people around the province.
“It has enabled us to not only facilitate research projects that are providing relevant and timely solutions for communities, but also foster relationships between researchers at Memorial and people around the province that will lead to better solutions and stronger research down the road,” said Ms. Jones.
The Thriving Regions workshops on the Baie Verte Peninsula were also conducted in partnership with Grenfell Campus’ GO Engagement and College of the North Atlantic.
Local food production
Of the three Thriving Regions projects being undertaken on the Baie Verte Peninsula, one focuses on food security. The project will look at local food production through the creation of a sustainable social enterprise that will be passed on to the community.
The technology at the heart of the project has been developed by Greenspace Urban Farms, a student-operated social enterprise offering low-cost alternatives to urban farming initiatives. Greenspaces are constructed from upcycled industrial materials and housed in shipping containers. They can operate year-round under any weather conditions, can employ up to three people full time in one system and designs can be catered to the needs of the community. The project will include the development of a business model that uses Greenspace’s technology and is customized for the Baie Verte Peninsula.
The research team for this project includes Bennett Newhook, a student in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, and Dr. Carlos Bazan, assistant professor and engineering chair in entrepreneurship, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, with support from Hannah Gaultois, partner relations officer, Centre for Social Enterprise.
Bennett Newhook
Mechanical engineering student Bennett Newhook says that sustainable agricultural solutions are not currently being seen in the Baie Verte region, but hopefully will be very soon.
Mr. Newhook, a mechanical engineering student, says that “We hope to develop a space that not only addresses food security issues, but also acts as an educational and cultural hub to stimulate community and regional development. The Baie Verte Peninsula is a very, very engaged region already. Because they’re so engaged, there’s a lot of opportunity there.”
Local development with global capabilities
While the first system will be constructed and operated in the Baie Verte region, the potential applicability of Greenspace systems is global. Initially, Greenspace was looking at urban farming systems for Sub-saharan Africa, but decided to develop the project first in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“On a local scale, we can see the passion for the issues, the availability of the resources to complete projects like this, and an opportunity close to home to help our fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” said Mr. Newhook. “I’m excited about Greenspace because I care deeply about food security issues in our province.”
Serving the province
Mr. Peach has been actively involved in all of the Thriving Regions projects in Baie Verte, and was part of the committee that decided upon the final three projects.
“I really want to highlight and celebrate that the Thriving Regions projects are examples of how the university can directly serve the province and its communities,” said Mr. Peach. “These projects will deliver tremendous value to our community. I think there are endless opportunities for the university to interact with communities and give back to the province.”
Mechanical engineering student Bennett Newhook says that sustainable agricultural solutions are not currently being seen in the Baie Verte region, but hopefully will be very soon.
Mr. Newhook, a mechanical engineering student, says that “We hope to develop a space that not only addresses food security issues, but also acts as an educational and cultural hub to stimulate community and regional development. The Baie Verte Peninsula is a very, very engaged region already. Because they’re so engaged, there’s a lot of opportunity there.”
Local development with global capabilities
While the first system will be constructed and operated in the Baie Verte region, the potential applicability of Greenspace systems is global. Initially, Greenspace was looking at urban farming systems for Sub-saharan Africa, but decided to develop the project first in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“On a local scale, we can see the passion for the issues, the availability of the resources to complete projects like this, and an opportunity close to home to help our fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” said Mr. Newhook. “I’m excited about Greenspace because I care deeply about food security issues in our province.”
Serving the province
Mr. Peach has been actively involved in all of the Thriving Regions projects in Baie Verte, and was part of the committee that decided upon the final three projects.
“I really want to highlight and celebrate that the Thriving Regions projects are examples of how the university can directly serve the province and its communities,” said Mr. Peach. “These projects will deliver tremendous value to our community. I think there are endless opportunities for the university to interact with communities and give back to the province.”
Mechanical engineering student Bennett Newhook says that sustainable agricultural solutions are not currently being seen in the Baie Verte region, but hopefully will be very soon.
Mr. Newhook, a mechanical engineering student, says that “We hope to develop a space that not only addresses food security issues, but also acts as an educational and cultural hub to stimulate community and regional development. The Baie Verte Peninsula is a very, very engaged region already. Because they’re so engaged, there’s a lot of opportunity there.”
Local development with global capabilities
While the first system will be constructed and operated in the Baie Verte region, the potential applicability of Greenspace systems is global. Initially, Greenspace was looking at urban farming systems for Sub-saharan Africa, but decided to develop the project first in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“On a local scale, we can see the passion for the issues, the availability of the resources to complete projects like this, and an opportunity close to home to help our fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” said Mr. Newhook. “I’m excited about Greenspace because I care deeply about food security issues in our province.”
Serving the province
Mr. Peach has been actively involved in all of the Thriving Regions projects in Baie Verte, and was part of the committee that decided upon the final three projects.
“I really want to highlight and celebrate that the Thriving Regions projects are examples of how the university can directly serve the province and its communities,” said Mr. Peach. “These projects will deliver tremendous value to our community. I think there are endless opportunities for the university to interact with communities and give back to the province.”
Mechanical engineering student Bennett Newhook says that sustainable agricultural solutions are not currently being seen in the Baie Verte region, but hopefully will be very soon.
Mr. Newhook, a mechanical engineering student, says that “We hope to develop a space that not only addresses food security issues, but also acts as an educational and cultural hub to stimulate community and regional development. The Baie Verte Peninsula is a very, very engaged region already. Because they’re so engaged, there’s a lot of opportunity there.”
Local development with global capabilities
While the first system will be constructed and operated in the Baie Verte region, the potential applicability of Greenspace systems is global. Initially, Greenspace was looking at urban farming systems for Sub-saharan Africa, but decided to develop the project first in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“On a local scale, we can see the passion for the issues, the availability of the resources to complete projects like this, and an opportunity close to home to help our fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” said Mr. Newhook. “I’m excited about Greenspace because I care deeply about food security issues in our province.”
Serving the province
Mr. Peach has been actively involved in all of the Thriving Regions projects in Baie Verte, and was part of the committee that decided upon the final three projects.
“I really want to highlight and celebrate that the Thriving Regions projects are examples of how the university can directly serve the province and its communities,” said Mr. Peach. “These projects will deliver tremendous value to our community. I think there are endless opportunities for the university to interact with communities and give back to the province.”
Mechanical engineering student Bennett Newhook says that sustainable agricultural solutions are not currently being seen in the Baie Verte region, but hopefully will be very soon.
Mr. Newhook, a mechanical engineering student, says that “We hope to develop a space that not only addresses food security issues, but also acts as an educational and cultural hub to stimulate community and regional development. The Baie Verte Peninsula is a very, very engaged region already. Because they’re so engaged, there’s a lot of opportunity there.”
Local development with global capabilities
While the first system will be constructed and operated in the Baie Verte region, the potential applicability of Greenspace systems is global. Initially, Greenspace was looking at urban farming systems for Sub-saharan Africa, but decided to develop the project first in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“On a local scale, we can see the passion for the issues, the availability of the resources to complete projects like this, and an opportunity close to home to help our fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” said Mr. Newhook. “I’m excited about Greenspace because I care deeply about food security issues in our province.”
Serving the province
Mr. Peach has been actively involved in all of the Thriving Regions projects in Baie Verte, and was part of the committee that decided upon the final three projects.
“I really want to highlight and celebrate that the Thriving Regions projects are examples of how the university can directly serve the province and its communities,” said Mr. Peach. “These projects will deliver tremendous value to our community. I think there are endless opportunities for the university to interact with communities and give back to the province.”
MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY | Newfoundland and Labrador's University | OFFICE of THE PRESIDENT | president@mun.ca | 709 864 8212
MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND | Newfoundland and Labrador's University | OFFICE of THE PRESIDENT | president@mun.ca | 709 864 8212
MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND | Newfoundland and Labrador's University | OFFICE of THE PRESIDENT | president@mun.ca | 709 864 8212
MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND | Newfoundland and Labrador's University
| OFFICE of THE PRESIDENT | president@mun.ca | 709 864 8212
OFFICE of THE PRESIDENT | president@mun.ca | 709 864 8212 |
MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY of NEWFOUNDLAND