Urban Barns Foods Inc. (URBF)

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Note on health benefits of URBF produce. http://media.wix.com/ugd/35ff10_f9d8f26856b94b978ff54953ac9a47ab.pdf
Montreal, Quebec, Canada - January 28, 2015 - Urban Barns Foods Inc. (OTCQB: URBF)(“Urban Barns”), an innovative food producer dedicated to growing consistent, healthy and fresh vegetables year round using its proprietary Cubic FarmingTM method, is pleased to provides its shareholders with an update on its research and development (R&D) activities at McGill University.
The Biomass Production Laboratory at McGill University, with support from Urban Barns, is paving the way for research in urban agriculture. Recent innovations with Light Emitting Diodes (LED) as a plant energy source, has brought about this new area of research. LED lighting systems have the capability to control wavelengths emitted. This allows for research on the impact of different spec- tral wavelength combinations on plant growth and development. Compared to conventional light- ing techniques when growing tomatoes, an arrangement of red and blue lights has proven to in- crease growth, improve morphology, and suppress plant pathogens. In February of 2014, Dr. Lefsrud with support from an industry partner, Urban Barns, was awarded a NSERC research grant to develop improved LED lighting systems for their indoor Cubic FarmingTM facility. The Cubic FarmingTM model consists of rotating troughs on which various species are grown, using controlled temperature, humidity, irrigation, and lighting. Results show significantly faster growth than with conventional lighting systems. “Once implemented at a large scale, this project has the potential to provide high yields of nutri- tious, sustainable, fresh and locally grown food year-round, regardless of regional climate.” Dr. Lefsrud stated. Research at Macdonald Campus Bioresource Engineering Department has published numerous LED scientific papers, putting the department at the forefront of this quickly evolving industry. This re- search has observed the concentration of ß-carotene and other phytochemicals in the growth cycle of plants, and how plant production of these antioxidants may be increased using LEDs. Specifically, the research has been focused on the impact of red, blue and amber LEDs to increase production and nutritional values. Dr Lefsrud states that “We have been very surprised by the increase in an- thocyanin levels in lettuce with small changes in the ratio of red, blue and amber LEDs”. However as Dr Lefsrud explains “not all plants exhibit the same response to these LED wavelengths and re- search is continuing in the laboratory”. Benefiting from the Biomass Production Laboratory expertise, the Urban Barns facility in Mirabel, Quebec opened in June 2014 and has begun selling pesticide and GMO-free lettuce to clients in Quebec and Ontario. A Cubic FarmingTM research unit has been assembled on the McGill MacDonald campus to aid in measuring photosynthetic efficiency of horticultural plants and further developing LED technology.