Funding will support development of heathy fruit and vegetables.
The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $330,000 through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership to enhance the Superior Plant Upgrading and Distribution Unit in New Liskeard, which supports farmers and the agriculture and food industry by testing plant diseases and supplying healthy plants to commercial growers across the province.
This investment will fund various upgrades to the SPUD Unit, including enhancements to irrigation, air filtration, heating, control systems, sterilization capacity, and greenhouse coverings, according to a press release. These improvements will enhance the ability to anticipate, detect, mitigate, and reduce plant diseases and pests along the supply chain, benefiting potato, berry, garlic, sweet potato, and hazelnut growers in the province.
The SPUD Unit produces 10% of the minitubers needed for seed potato production in Ontario and is the only source in Canada for garlic seed suited for the Ontario climate.
The SPUD Unit is operated by the University of Guelph and funded in part by the Ontario Agri-food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario, and the University of Guelph to advance research and innovation.
Sustainable CAP is a 5-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.
