Developing and adapting on-farm waste water treatment systems is a top priority for the ornamental horticulture sector and this investment will help growers minimize the amount of pollutants (nitrogen, phosphorus and solids) in runoff water from greenhouses and nurseries.
- In 2014, farm cash receipts of the ornamental horticulture sector were approximately $1.8 billion, with about $366 million in exports.
- Experimental water treatment systems will be tested on four farms in the Lake Simcoe and Niagara peninsula regions to test for residual pollutants in runoff water.
- This investment is being made through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP), a five-year $50.3 million program that ends in 2019.
"This project represents an incredible collaboration between the private sector and government, working together to promote environmental sustainability in ornamental horticulture. Our members are engaged in developing new and innovative solutions for increasing water use efficiency on our farms. We are very excited about the outcomes of this project and appreciate the support." - Andy Kuyvenhoven - President, Flowers Canada Growers Inc.
Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
