Canadian fresh fruit and vegetable producers are set to benefit from an important government-backed research project to help improve insect and disease management within the sector, according to a press release from Agri-Food Canada.
The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), announced yesterday (Tuesday 3 August) that Phytodata Inc. will receive up to C$1.2m to develop DNA-based technologies for disease monitoring in produce.
“Investments in innovation keep our farmers on the cutting edge of technology,” said Minister Blackburn. “This project will provide our producers with tools to help improve pest and disease management, which will boost their productivity and help them compete in the marketplace.”
The funding will go towards developing new ways to monitor and detect major diseases in potatoes, table grapes and greenhouse-grown tomatoes.
Agri-Food Canada said DNA-based technologies are highly reliable methods for monitoring diseases affecting fruits and vegetables and can help producers prevent the spread of disease through crops. The results can then be applied to other vegetable diseases.
Improved pest and disease management initiatives are an efficient way to reduce pesticide use and increase farmers’ productivity, the association added.
“Thanks to the funding from Agriculture Canada, Phytodata and its partner, McCain Foods Canada, will develop expertise unmatched in the world in the detection of late blight in potatoes and several other airborne plant diseases,” said Luc Brodeur, president of Phytodata.
This project is being funded by the Developing Innovative Agri-Products initiative, which supports industry-led science and technology projects.
The initiative is part of the larger Growing Canadian Agri-Innovations Program, a C$158m five-year programme to promote industry-led innovation initiatives which aim to help position new agricultural products into the marketplace and improve agricultural processes.
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