 The unit extended the shelf life of produce by lowering the ambient amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which help to trigger organic decomposition.The centre also expanded its studies to include chicken-egg incubation research, and poultry health and breeding, decreasing by half the time required to raise a chicken.In 1996 the Honeycrisp apple variety (developed by the University of Minnesota) was recognized as a potential high quality cultivar for Nova Scotia's growing climate, and research began on establishing proper production methods and post-harvest storage.