Climate change is causing more frequent and severe spring frost events across Canada, putting fruit crops at greater risk. In British Columbia and Ontario, late frosts can seriously damage wine grapes and tender fruit trees, costing growers as much as $20,000 per acre through crop losses, replanting costs, and reduced production. In Saskatchewan, Haskap berries also face growing risks because they bloom very early in the season. Although Haskap plants are naturally cold-tolerant, their flowers and young leaves are vulnerable if frost occurs after they begin to grow.
Current frost protection methods, such as propane heaters, diesel-powered wind machines, and overhead irrigation, are expensive to operate, require significant labour, use large amounts of energy, and produce greenhouse gas emissions. There is currently no widely available biological product that provides similar protection.
ABA Boost, developed by ABAzyne Bioscience Inc., is a new plant treatment designed to help crops better withstand cold temperatures. Applied as a spray before the growing season or after harvest, it activates the plant’s natural defence systems, increasing cold tolerance and helping plants better manage the timing of dormancy. This reduces the risk of frost damage during the most vulnerable stages of growth and can provide protection for several weeks, reducing the need for costly emergency frost protection.
ABA Boost is currently available only as an active ingredient. A major goal of the Abazyne Bioscience Genomics Project is to develop and test a stable, commercially ready product that can be approved for use and sold to growers. The project will evaluate the effectiveness of ABA Boost on wine grapes, tender fruit, and Haskap berries across British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, helping determine its potential as a practical and environmentally friendly frost protection solution for Canadian agriculture.
