Vineland research station successes lead to renewed funding commitment

Monday, April 21, 2014

by SUSAN MANN

Federal and provincial governments providing $26.5 million in funding over five years for the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre shows they have confidence in the centre’s work, says CEO Jim Brandle.

The government funding comes from Growing Forward 2, the national agricultural policy framework, and will help to pay for part of the centre’s core research and operating expenditures. The government funding covers about half of the centre’s expenditures, Brandle says. The other half comes from sources such as industry contributions, revenue the centre generates through its commercialization activities and contracts for work. Generally Growing Forward 2 projects are typically funded 60 per cent by the federal government and 40 per cent by the province.

The two Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Westdale political representatives, MP David Sweet and MPP Ted McMeekin made the funding announcement Tuesday at the Vineland centre.

About the funding, Brandle says “it’s a positive thing. We have obviously achieved well enough to get that level of investment. They (governments) see that this new way to innovate is an important part of the future.”

The joint government press release says the money will support innovations at the centre in these three areas of research:

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

The Growing Forward 2 funding will ensure the centre “can continue to focus on world-class applied research, innovation and commercialization activities to further strengthen Ontario’s horticultural sector and support good jobs,” the release says.

The funding will help the centre assist the province’s horticultural industry address production challenges, respond to consumer demands and bring new products and technologies to market, according to the release.

Ray Duc, chair of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, says “this is very welcome news. It will help us stay competitive in the global market and it will keep us on the leading edge of technology.”

Those technologies include robots to package six-inch potted plants, such as mini roses, tulips or daffodils. That project is almost completed and “we’re moving those (robots) over to the manufacturer so they can be built and sold out for people to use,” Brandle says. They’ve also built other machines, such as a mushroom harvester.

Another project developed at the centre is the Sundown pear, a late season variety with good storage capacity. Last year, growers bought 13,000 Sundown pear trees from Vineland while projected sales for this year are 40,000 trees.

“The first Sundown pears will come out on the market this summer and consumers can buy them,” he says. The pear’s development has been positive for growers “because of the firelight resistance and the higher yield.”

The centre’s researchers are also continuing their work on new and different crops for Canadian farmers to grow, such as eggplant and okra. “We’re trying to drive acreage up there,” Brandle says. "The demand is there. Grocery stores are certainly interested in the produce when it gets grown." BF