Building a Sustainable Future for Peat Through Policy and Innovation
In this three part series, Greenhouse Grower Content Specialist Marisa Reyes talks with Asha Hingorani, President of the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA), along with Stéphanie Boudreau, Vice President of Science and Research Partnerships, and Charleen McCartney, Communication Coordinator, about how the industry is balancing responsible peat extraction, long-term restoration, and science-based communication for generations to come.
(L to R) Asha Hingorani, Charleen McCartney, and Stéphanie Boudreau. | Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA)
Click here to read Parts 1 and 2.
Policy, Regulation & Tariffs
Marisa Reyes: How have U.S. tariff policies affected peat moss imports, pricing, and supply chains?
Asha Hingorani: The Canadian peat Industry’s sales to the U.S. amount to approximately $1 billion USD — representing 85% of its production. In the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the U.S., peat (under Chapter 27) is excluded from tariffs. This is also confirmed in Annex II, in section 3B of the Executive Order. There are no tariffs on peat.
The Canadian government is currently undergoing a consultation on the operations of the CUSMA agreement. The Canadian peat industry will take part in these consultations to ensure the continuous supply of peat and peat-based products are supplied to the U.S. to meet grower and customer demands.
Marisa Reyes: How do environmental or wetland protection regulations in Canada play into peat development plans or permitting?
Asha Hingorani: In all Canadian jurisdictions, peat extraction projects for horticultural purposes are subject to strict regulatory frameworks. Specific terms and conditions to prepare and conduct peat extraction activities are managed provincially. Each peat producer is responsible for the application and the respect of the provincial and national legislation under which it operates, including social, environmental, and economic considerations. It could take anywhere up to five to seven years to acquire a lease to extract, as producers must conduct environmental assessments, consult with our indigenous communities, conduct a Species at Risk Assessment, apply for permits under provincial Water Acts, and ensure a restoration plan is in place, among other obligations.
CSPMA collaborates with the Canadian governments on key peatland initiatives and legislation, leveraging our expertise to help shape effective policies that ensure responsible resource management.
Innovation & Research
Marisa Reyes: Are there ongoing or upcoming research projects focused on peatland science, restoration, or carbon sequestration?
Stéphanie Boudreau: Collaboration between the horticultural peat industry and academic research teams has been essential to the development of effective restoration methods and other best practices. For more than 30 years, the CSPMA has helped fund more than $20 million in research projects, in partnership with federal agencies such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
This is a considerable amount in relation to the size of the Canadian peat industry. The Peatland Ecology Research Group (PERG), led by Dr. Line Rochefort of Université Laval, has played a key role in research and innovation in ecological peatland restoration. As a result, the PERG research team has developed an incomparable and internationally recognized expertise in peatlands biology and ecological restoration approaches, resulting in more than 400 publications between 1992 and 2024.
In 2025, the industry is funding three collaborative research programs through NSERC programs, where every dollar invested by the private sector is matched by an equivalent amount from NSERC:
NSERC Alliance Grant — “Nature-Based Solutions: Restoration of Peatlands for Biodiversity Recovery and Cimate Change Mitigation” (2024–2029)
Principal investigator: Line Rochefort (Université Laval, QC); co-investigators: Maria Strack (University of Waterloo, ON), Ian Strachan (Queen’s University, ON), and Marc-André Bourgault (Université Laval, QC).
NSERC CRD Program — “Greenhouse Gas Emission Factors from Peat Extraction, Use and After Use” (2019–2025)
Principal investigator: Nigel Roulet (McGill University, QC); co-investigators: Maria Strack (University of Waterloo, ON), David Olefeldt (University of Alberta, AB), and Tim Moore (McGill University, QC).
NSERC Alliance Grant Program — “Fen Restoration and Ecotone Creation in Southeast Manitoba” (2021–2026)
Principal investigator: Pete Whittington (Brandon University, MB); co-investigator: Maria Strack (University of Waterloo, ON).
In 2024, the industry also invested in the creation of the Partnership Research Chair in Ecosystem Restoration, led by Dr. Line Rochefort, professor at Université Laval’s Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences. The five-year chair has a mission to advance, through research and the training of highly qualified personnel, the science and practice of ecological restoration to sustain biodiversity, improve resilience in a changing climate, and transfer this knowledge to stakeholder communities.
Marisa Reyes: What technological or process innovations are being piloted to improve sustainability?
Stéphanie Boudreau: Certified companies in the Canadian peat industry are required to demonstrate continuous improvement in all aspects of their environmental management — including water management. As part of the Veriflora® Responsible Peatland Management Certification, each site must have a water management plan in place and show ongoing progress, which is verified during their annual third-party audits.
Beyond certification requirements, several companies are also engaged in collaborative research and innovation projects aimed at improving environmental practices. For instance, some producers are currently testing new bioprocess technologies to enhance sedimentation in sediment ponds.
In addition to these collective initiatives, many companies also undertake their own technological or process innovations to improve sustainability. These are internal projects, led and communicated directly by the companies themselves, without the association’s direct involvement.
Marisa Reyes: In your view, what will the competitive landscape look like?
Stéphanie Boudreau: Peat and peat-based substrate mixes are the preferred growing media for food crops and ornamental plants in both controlled environments and traditional horticulture. Its uniform physical and chemical properties support predictable growth, making it ideal for vegetables, fruits, herbs, mushrooms, flowers, trees, and shrubs. The industry’s rigorous quality standards ensure growers receive a stable, high-performing substrate that integrates seamlessly into automated production systems.
While alternatives such as coconut coir, wood fiber, and compost are often used to supplement peat or, in some cases, replace it entirely, they come with limitations. These alternatives can vary in their suitability for plant growth, availability, cost, and environmental footprint. A competitive landscape would see the positives of blending these alternatives with peat to help balance their limitations while maximizing the overall benefits for horticulture.
Peat’s stable structure, consistent performance, and low pathogen risk make it well-suited to work in combination with other inputs/alternatives, helping growers fine-tune mixes to meet specific applications such as crop needs. Whether used alone or as part of a blend, peat provides the essential foundation that supports healthy root systems, uniform growth, and reliable yields.
Marisa Reyes: What message would you like to convey about the role of peat in the industry moving forward?
Asha Hingorani: First, thank you to Greenhouse Growers for your interest in covering the Canadian peat industry and doing a deep dive on the industry’s academic-industry partnerships, and covering the challenges and opportunities the industry faces.
The industry would encourage all media companies to ensure they seek out the facts before publishing content on the peat industry, or any industry for that matter, without science-based facts to back up their arguments and/or statements. Further, we’d encourage the media to connect directly with scientists involved in research. Scientists who have expertise in biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, hydrology, and peatland ecology. Canada has the best scientists in the world studying these topics in a very in-depth way, and there are great stories on peatland restoration and others that should be told and known.
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