The first phase of the Biotron Project was the establishment of the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) located on the campus of the University of Guelph, Canada in 1999. This fully operational, controlled environment facility was established through support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Ontario Innovation Trust (OIT), the Canadian Space Agency, and the Centre for Research in Earth and Space Technology (CRESTech). The primary focus of this facility is the evaluation of plant-based life support systems for space travel and related applications in extreme terrestrial habitats.
The Biotron Experimental Climate Change Research Centre, located at The University of Western Ontario (Western), Canada was the second phase of the Biotron Project. It complements phase 1 by focusing on Earth-based ecosystems and ecosystem health through the creation of controlled environments for climate change research and environmental risk assessment. Centralized imaging and data analysis, chemical and geoanalysis facilities were included to enhance the operational capabilities of the Biotron and to streamline analytical services. By providing remote access to the Biotron facilities through secure internet connection, and widening the user base on a global scale, the Biotron has become of international importance. Core financial support for Phase 2 of the Biotron Project was provided by CFI and OIT. The principal collaborating institutions are The University of Western Ontario, the University of Guelph and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Phase 2 officially opened in September 2008.
Future plans may include the development of large scale, robotic, controlled environments with remote imaging and data analysis capabilities for both Earth and space-based ecosystems.
