In Windsor-Essex, 5G feeds local greenhouse industry

Added on 14 December 2023

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In Windsor-Essex, 5G feeds local greenhouse industry

Dr. Patrick Wspanialy, Director of Research and Development at ecoation, a joint partner in Horteca, discussing agtech and growing practices with a team of researchers from the University of Windsor. PHOTO BY UWINDSOR

For businesses and individuals alike, there’s a lot riding on fast, reliable connectivity. It was Paul J. Mastronardi’s grandfather who first helped to plant the seeds of economic possibility in Windsor-Essex, as one of the greenhouse industry’s pioneers in the 1950s.

Seven decades later, Mastronardi proudly carries on the family legacy as a third-generation grower and distributor of produce grown indoors near the banks of Lake Erie, just about an hour’s drive from the Windsor-Detroit border. Today, the 31-year-old operates JEM Farms with his brother Jamie, blending tradition with cutting-edge digital technologies to unleash the full promise of the region as a global greenhouse farming force, powered by 5G.

“We want to be at the forefront of everything we do, constantly enhance our performance, and we’re keen on bringing the right ideas to trial,” says Mastronardi.

Mastronardi has partnered with an agriculture technology provider called ecoation to build Horteca, a research and development greenhouse the size of two Canadian football fields located on Mastronardi’s farmland, next to his commercial operation. With support from TELUS and the University of Windsor, the facility is being used by growers and academic researchers to experiment using 5G to tackle critical food production opportunities and challenges, and better match supply with customer demand.