Government Announces Support for Smart Farming Appliance

A St. John’s-based company that has developed an aeroponic appliance for growing herbs and vegetables indoors is receiving support from the Provincial Government to grow its business.

The company will receive $146,531 to support the development of its smart farming device known as Victory.

Aera’s goal is to revolutionize food production through automated aeroponic farming appliances. Victory is a fridge-sized appliance that uses innovative aeroponic technology allowing users to grow and maintain a consistent level of produce in a commercial setting. It can grow a wide variety of plants, from leafy greens to root vegetables, and it has software that includes a proprietary crop management system, remote access capabilities, and comprehensive dashboard analytics.

Leveraging the financial support provided by the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Aera will invest a further $163,118 for this project. In addition, the company is receiving advisory services and up to $57,168 in research and development funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program to support growth trials using its smart farming appliance.