 June 3, 2009, Vineland, Ont. — Floriculture producers in Ontario have made a four-year, $200,000 commitment to partner with Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in establishing a biocontrol research program.
One of the major challenges faced by growers is the pest threat that infests some of the 1,500 different types of crops grown in the 50 million square feet of greenhouse production in Ontario. Modern pest control practices involve the use of biological control organisms in place of pesticides, and growers are committed to the use of biocontrol agents.
“This is the first of future ongoing commitments made by growers in order to support research at Vineland that will contribute to the creation of a world-leading research facility in the third-largest floriculture production centre in North America,” said Andrew Kuyvenhoven, president of Flowers Canada (Ontario). “We thank both the governments of Canada and Ontario for their commitment to the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and their support of this important research.”
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| Andrew Kuyvenhoven |
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, with the co-operation of FCO, will establish a team of scientists to undertake research into thrip and whitefly control in particular.
FCO already supports research in partnership with AAFC and the University of Guelph and will continue to build on these investments through the Vineland commitment. Successful research programs depend on partnerships and shared expertise that will develop further from the Vineland lead in this project.
“We appreciate this substantial commitment from Flowers Canada (Ontario) on behalf of the floriculture sector in Ontario. Vineland provides industry-driven horticulture research and is pleased to offer our expertise through one of our three core research capabilities, Horticulture Production Systems, which within its mandate addresses pest management and biocontrols,” said Vineland CEO Dr. Jim Brandle. “This research will be of major consequence to the floriculture industry, which already contributes significantly to the economy in Ontario, most of which is right here on our doorstep.”
The floriculture sector contributes 46 per cent of the farmgate sales generated by all of agriculture in the Niagara region, and $747 million in farmgate sales in Ontario.
Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is an independent, not-for-profit organization established as a world-class centre for horticultural science and innovation.
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