The Canadian government is launching the $16 million Prince Edward Island Potato Stabilization and Innovation Initiative (PSII) to help the Island potato industry recover from the 2021 potato wart detection, a Nov. 1 news release said.
“The Island’s potato industry is an iconic cornerstone of our economy, and a real great source of pride for communities right across the province. This federal support will help the sector continue to recover and provide island farmers with the tools to build resiliency for generations to come,” Lawrence MacAulay, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, said in the release.
The two-year PSII will help small and medium-sized enterprises modernize, diversify and adapt to meet changing market conditions. The release noted the initiative supports investments in a range of areas including digitalization and automation, improved storage, development of value-added products, and diversification.
Twenty-seven businesses across P.E.I. are receiving funds through the program, the release said.
The program is meant to help Island potato businesses and farms who saw export restrictions put in place following the discovery of potato wart in 2021.
