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New funding for Ontario horticulture

April 22, 2014  By Canadian Garden Centre & Nursery


Apr. 22, 2014, Vineland, ON — The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing $26.5 million in the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.

The funding will help the province's horticulture industry address production challenges, respond to consumer demands and bring new products to market.

"Vineland has helped to improve the profitability of Ontario's horticulture sector across the province, and has provided more choice to consumers. By working together, we can continue to chart a path for a stronger future for Ontario's horticulture sector," said Ted McMeekin, MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale.

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"I'm impressed with the horticultural and agricultural innovations developed right here at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre," said David Sweet, MP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale. "Savvy consumers are increasingly looking for a variety of homegrown produce and these labs give our growers, greenhouse operators and nurseries a distinct competitive advantage."

The funding will come through Growing Forward 2, a five-year federal-provincial-territorial initiative. It will support innovations in the centre's three areas of research:

  • Consumer insights to support new products, including different varieties of vegetables, apples and wine
  • Enhanced horticultural production systems, including natural and automated pest management systems for greenhouse and nursery operations
  • Genetic research to create crops that are more resilient to Ontario's conditions and more profitable to grow

"GF2 investments by Canada and Ontario help us to use innovation to bring more success and profitability to horticulture. This investment has established a solid foundation for world-class horticultural research and expanded innovation capacity in Ontario," said Jim Brandle, CEO of Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.


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