Van Luyk R&D · PlantAlign Crop Innovation
From data to real growing decisions.
PlantAlign combines climate, location, soil, crop, production and market evidence to identify promising opportunities. Field and protected trials test how a crop actually performs under Canadian growing conditions.
How PlantAlign makes a growing decision
A crop, location and growing system with a testable reason to proceed.
Field, hoop-house or greenhouse trials reveal performance, inputs and practical constraints.
Use trial results to revise the approach or develop a practical production protocol.
Why PlantAlign
Make new crop choices with better evidence.
High-value, underused, culturally important and import-dependent crops may offer opportunities in Canada. Suitability on a map is only a starting point. We investigate the crop, the site, the production system and the prospective market together.
PlantAlign is developing a repeatable, crop-by-crop process for growers, greenhouse operators and end users. It starts with targeted assessment and small trials using existing field, hoop-house or greenhouse space where possible.
The decision pathway
From data to practical production.
Each stage informs the next. A promising desk assessment leads to a trial; results determine whether to refine a protocol or reconsider the crop and system.
Identify a crop
Consider demand, cultural relevance, import dependence and potential growing windows.
Assess fit
Compare climate, location, soil, crop needs, available systems and market requirements.
Run trials
Test promising combinations in the field, hoop house or greenhouse; record performance and inputs.
Refine & share
Use trial findings to improve a growing protocol and assess the case for wider production.
Decision gate: if a crop does not perform or the market fit is weak, revise the approach before scaling.
Current case study · Saffron
One crop. Three growing settings.
Saffron (Crocus sativus) is our first crop case study. Building on a small 2025 trial, our expanded 2026 work compares outdoor and unheated protected production in southwestern Ontario.
Windsor, Ontario
Field production under local outdoor conditions.
London, Ontario
Outdoor growing at Van Luyk Greenhouses.
London, Ontario
Unheated hoop-house production.
Where this can lead
Designed for real growing decisions.
For growers
Evaluate new crops and growing windows using available field or protected space.
For buyers & processors
Explore whether locally grown crops can meet ingredient, quality and supply needs.
For collaborators
Connect data analysis, applied trials and market questions in a practical crop-by-crop project.
Our roots
Research and community, side by side.
Van Luyk’s has paired commercial growing with community learning. Our work has included school gardens, horticultural work experience for autistic youth, and a 2019 vegetable demonstration project exploring planting systems and beneficial microbes. That hands-on approach continues to guide how we test ideas and share what we learn.
Research rooted in production
Science, tested where crops grow.
PlantAlign is led by Dr. Suba Sivakumar, a plant pathologist and greenhouse operator. The work connects research questions with the day-to-day realities of crop production, testing, outreach and commercial planning.
Founder, PlantAlign Crop Innovation
Work with us
Have a crop or market question?
We welcome focused conversations about a crop to assess, a trial site, a Canadian-grown ingredient or a possible research collaboration.
Let’s explore the opportunity.
- Growers & greenhouse operators
- Food processors & ingredient buyers
- Researchers & data collaborators
- Investors & project partners
PlantAlign Crop Innovation is an applied R&D initiative operated by 2619559 Ontario Ltd. Its research, data and crop protocols are distinct from the Van Luyk garden-centre retail operation.