VINELAND STATION, ON,
May 10,
2024 /CNW/ - Canadian farmers produce a wide range of
fruits, including apples and tender fruit like peaches, pears, and
apricots, that contribute steadily to Canada's economy—with most of Canada's tender fruit and apples grown in
Ontario.
To keep the sector strong, competitive, and resilient in the
face of more extreme weather events, today, Vance Badawey, Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre,
on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced up to $1,099,624 to the Ontario Tender Fruit Growers
through the AgriScience Program – Projects Component, an initiative
under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Ontario
Apple Growers is a project partner.
Key outcomes of the project include:
- Developing baseline data on the carbon footprint and
environmental impacts of Canadian apple and tender fruit farming
operations
- Measuring and quantifying the impacts of climate-smart
management practices on a farm's environmental footprint
- Developing a carbon calculator to help growers understand,
track, and reduce their carbon footprint and GHG emissions
- Developing innovative and superior varieties of tender fruit to
increase the resiliency and economic growth of the sector
Building on the previous variety development research, this
project will look at innovative tender fruit varieties with
improved attributes—such as firmer flesh—to increase production,
extend shelf-life, and reduce losses caused by shipping, storage,
and climate change.
Quotes
"As a farmer myself, I know firsthand the challenges our
producers face when it comes to unpredictable weather. Climate
change is making once-in-a-generation extreme weather events more
common, and research will help ensure our producers are able to
adapt and protect their operations. This project, which builds on
past research projects we have proudly supported, will help our
producers stay competitive, while reducing the carbon footprint of
the sector."
-
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food
"Improving the resiliency and shelf-life of tender fruit will
allow for a greater return on investment for producers in
Ontario. With this funding, the
Ontario Tender Fruit Growers will undertake research to help reduce
the carbon footprint of the sector while also reducing loss and
food waste, a win-win."
-
Vance Badawey, Parliamentary
Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for
Niagara Centre
"This new generation of homegrown fruit varieties offers
benefits to growers, consumers and the environment. We will reduce
our reliance on imported product, increase consumption of healthy
food, and cut down on emissions-producing food waste – and by
expanding production here at home, we're also supporting the
economic sustainability of our agriculture sector. We appreciate
the government's ongoing commitment to innovation for our domestic
tree fruit industry by investing in this much-needed research."
-
Phil Tregunno, Chair, Ontario Tender
Fruit Growers
"As tree fruit growers, we've long been adopting sustainable
farming practices that let us improve soil health and use water,
fertilizer and crop science tools more efficiently as we produce
healthy food for our consumers. The new tools being developed
through this research will help us measure the impacts of our
actions and identify additional areas for change so that we can
continue to improve our environmental sustainability."
-
Brian Rideout, Chair, Ontario Apple
Growers
Quick Facts
- The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable Canadian
Agricultural Partnership, aims to accelerate innovation by
providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities
and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector,
and Canadians.
- The AgriScience Program - Projects Component is currently
accepting applications.
- The Ontario Tender Fruit Growers project responds to
producer-identified priorities which align with the program's
priority areas of Environment and Climate Change, Economic Growth
and Development, and Sector Resilience and Societal
Challenges.
- The Ontario Tender Fruit Growers is a not-for-profit,
independent farming organization governed by grower members that
regulates prices and conditions of sale, as well as marketing and
promotion for tender fruit in Ontario.
- The Ontario Apple Growers is a not-for-profit, independent
farming organization governed by grower members mandated to work on
promotion and research and development for the members.
Additional Links
- AgriScience Program – Projects
- Ontario Tender Fruit Growers
- Ontario Apple Growers
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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada