Adnan Sharif, a University of Toronto graduate student, found himself constantly forgetting to water his plants. This would have been a small inconvenience for most, but for Sharif, it meant potential setbacks in his lab work. At the time, he was working in a plant immunity biology lab, where plants were vital for his experiments. Reflecting on this challenge, Sharif came up with an idea that would eventually lead to the creation of Lyrata, a Toronto-based startup transforming how fresh produce is grown for caterers and high-end restaurants. The inspiration for his solution came from an unexpe…