The institute for Advanced Learning and Research has formed a partnership with Canon Virginia to that will hopefully provide research into long term plant health.  Canon will provide their patent-pending imaging technology to monitor plant anomalies and external factors that can inhibit plant life such as pests, disease and temperature.  The institute has also reached out to and engaged a representative from Virginia Tech’s School of Plant and Environmental Sciences to assist with the project. The purpose of the research is to help discover symptoms of diseases at an early state and identify plant health to growers.  Over time the imaging will show progression and regression which will provide insight for plant growers. The collaboration began in March of this year and will run for the next two years.  Dr. Scott Lowman the Institutes vice President of applied research said of the partnership, “Canon Virginia, Inc. has long been a pioneer in imaging technology, so to add their expertise and first-rate technology to our research efforts is not only an honor but will further enhance our innovation and leadership in controlled environment agriculture studies.”