New Report Highlights Innovations in Horticulture Research

By Vineland Research and Innovation Centre|January 21, 2022

The Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Canada released its 2021-2022 Innovation Report late last year, highlighting the Centre’s century-long task of improving the economic viability, sustainability, and competitiveness of horticulture in Canada.

With support from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and industry collaborators, Vineland has achieved significant impacts for the sector. Highlights for the greenhouse horticulture industry include:

Advancement of horticultural automation through the development and licensing of technologies and the creation of a cross-Canada network.
Launch of the spin-off bio-tech company Platform Genetics Inc. to commercialize Vineland’s proprietary Deep Variant Scanning technology and provide Ontario-based plant genomics services to clients around the world.
Development of protocols to improve production, planting and survival of trees and green infrastructure implemented by governments and adopted broadly in the nursery and landscape industry.
Response to high priority greenhouse grower needs to develop science-based recommendations to improve uptake and success of biocontrol products.
Commercialization of four superior landscape roses under Vineland’s 49th Parallel Collection brand and commercialization of other varieties through licensed agreements.
Development of new greenhouse tomato-on-the vine (TOV) hybrids designed for Ontario growing conditions with higher yields, disease resistance and superior quality.
Licensing of Vineland’s first three varieties of greenhouse tomato hybrids to a seed company and scaling up toward commercial launch.

Significant opportunities still exist to advance the Canadian horticultural sector, including:

Automating to address labor costs and availability challenges and grow market opportunities for Canadian manufacturing and automation industries.
Creating access to plant varieties optimized for Canadian growing conditions to provide food safety, supply and security.
Ensuring innovation capacity (both people and facilities) are in place to quickly address future unknowns — such as new devastating plant viruses and/or invasive species.

The full Innovation Report is available for download here.