Drummondville, Quebec– Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - The Canadian ornamental horticulture sector is vibrant and strong, thanks to Canada’s hard working producers. It is a key contributor to Canada’s economy, representing $2.3 billion in farmgate receipts, and supporting thousands of jobs across the country.
Today, Jean-Claude Poissant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay, announced a federal investment of up to $4.6 million to the Ornamental Horticulture Research and Innovation Cluster under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The Cluster will be lead by the Canadian Ornamental Horticultural Alliance (COHA).
Building on two previous research clusters, this investment includes an additional $1.7 million in contributions from industry, for a total investment of up to $6.3 million. The new Cluster places a strong focus on the environment, through three key areas of focus, including:
- helping to combat climate change through plant breeding,
- enhancing environmental sustainability through improved fertilizer and irrigation practices, and
- driving productivity and competitiveness by finding ways to boost yields while reducing input costs.
Source : Government of Canada