b'Three Island Industry Leaders Receive NationalThe food processing companys goal is to implement regenerative Recognition agriculture practices across 100 per cent of the global acreage that On March 6, three individuals from P.E.I. were acknowledgedgrows potatoes for McCain products by the end of the decade, the on the national agriculture platform. The annual meetings of therelease said. There have been 28 per cent of McCain potato acres that Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC), formerly knownhave moved up the Regenerative Agriculture Framework toward as the Canadian Horticulture Council, took place early March inmore comprehensive adoption of regenerative practices. Ottawa. Highlights of the 2023 Global Sustainability Report include:Brenda Simmons, formerly the assistant general manager ofMcCain has completed its first season at its Farm of thethe PEI Potato Board, received a Lifetime Achievement Award.Future Africa and third season at Farm of the Future Canada, Simmons has made significant contributions within the FVGC,improving water-use efficiency in water-stressed regions by notably within the Canadian Potato Council. Her extensive9.4 per cent, delivering more than 23,500 hours of training to involvement as a director of the CPC, along with her tenure asfarmers and reaching its target of having 21.9 per cent of the vice-chair, reflects her commitment to the organization. Marypotatoes grown for McCain being water stress-tolerant varieties. Kay Sonier, former Seed Coordinator for the PEI Potato industry,More than 21 per cent of the electrical energy used by McCain was honoured with the title of Honorary Lifetime Member ofwas from renewable sources with absolute carbon emissions FVGC. Soniers agricultural expertise has been instrumental in(Scope 1 and 2) reducing by 9.8 per cent from 2017.her involvement in various national and international committeesMcCain launched new global policies for clean ingredients and and working groups throughout the years. She has been an activenutrition, while maintaining 100 per cent Global Food Safety participant in the CPC for an extended period, serving as a keyInitiative certification at all McCain owned facilities.member of the Research Working Group, Potatoes Canada, and theIn 2023, McCain employees provided more than 17,000 Seed Potato Sub-Committee, where she held the position of nationalvolunteer hours through the McCain Chips In initiative, vice-chair. Alvin Keenan, co-owner of Rollo Bay Holdings in Rolloreaching 2,716 new beneficiaries with development programs Bay, P.E.I., was recognized with one of the prestigious Conneryand partnerships.Awards, which honours those demonstrating exceptional leadershipWhile we are proud of how far we have progressed towards our and advancement of interests in Canadas horticulture industry.goals, we recognize there is more to be done, Koeune said. But Keenan has contributed significantly to the farming communitywe know this is not something we can do alone. Partnership and through various roles. He served as the Atlantic representativeknowledge are crucial to move forward. We will continue to look and former president of the CHC and held positions as presidentto stakeholdersfrom our farmers, to government, to financial of the PEI Federation of Agriculture, PEI Farm Practices Reviewinstitutions, NGOs, suppliers, customers and other players in the food Board, and was a former Director of the Canadian Federation ofsystemto collaborate on this journey towards planet-friendly food.Agriculture. Potato Production in the United States and Canada up More Than Half of McCain Potato Growers Signed on8 Per Cent From 2022for Regen Ag A report released from the United States Department of Agriculture There have been 51 per cent of McCain Foods global potato(USDA) on Feb. 12 contained compiled statistics from the Servicio acreage onboarded with the companys Regenerative Agriculturede Informacin Agroalimentaria y Pesquera (SIAP), Statistics Framework, a news release about McCains annual GlobalCanada, and USDAs National Agricultural Statistics Service Sustainability Report said. (NASS).We are pleased to share an update on how we are makingThe report compiled potato production data for three countries strides towards our goals in key areas that will ensure weinto a single publication. The report noted that all information have resource efficient operations, are farming in a smart andpresented in the report originated from previously published data sustainable way and are contributing to building thrivingsourcescommunities in the areas that we operate, all while we continue toAccording to the report, 2023 potato production for the United produce good food, Max Koeune, president and CEO of McCainStates and Canada combined is estimated at 570 million cwt, up Foods, said in the release. eight per cent from the 2022 estimate. The United States potato Stop infection before it startsDownforce is a Group 29 fungicide that inhibits the germination of disease spores.SPUDSMART.COMSpring 202461WWW.UAP.CA'