Canadian Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture 2 Looking Back and Growing Forward: Lessons Learned in Knowledge Transfer Amy Argentino Manager, Projects and Programs Canadian Horticultural Council April 13, 2016 - AIC Conference
Canadian Horticultural Council The Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) is an Ottawa-based voluntary, not-for-profit, national association that represents producers from across Canada involved in the production and packing of over 120 fruit and vegetable crops. Members include provincial and national horticultural commodity organizations as well as associated organizations, provincial governments and individual producers. Our Vision : An Innovative and Sustainable Canadian Horticulture Industry. Our Mission : To be the Voice of Canadian Horticulture. Our Mandate : To build national consensus on issues relevant to our Members in order to influence policies and programs for a sustainable horticultural sector. Our Value Proposition : To give members a seat at the table where their industry’s future is being decided
Line of Sight and Key Result Areas (KRAs) Core KRA 1 ADVOCACY, GOVERNMENT and STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS Matters related to the effective representation of CHC issues to various levels of government as well as communications and development of positions on issues with external parties, including other related industry stakeholders. Enabling KRA 2 MEMBER and BOARD SERVICES Matters related to the products and services provided by CHC staff and volunteers to both Members, and to the Board of Directors. KRA 3 PROJECTS and PROGRAMS Matters related to the projects and programs coordinated by the CHC in collaboration with sector stakeholders to advance the CHC advocacy agenda. KRA 4 POLICY DEVELOPMENT and COMMITTEE SUPPORT Matters related to the manner in which CHC policy is developed and the means of supporting the ongoing work of CHC Committees and Commodity Working Groups. KRA 5 STEWARDSHIP OF ASSETS Matters related to the management and oversight of the full range of CHC assets to ensure the continuity of the CHC in perpetuity.
CHC Legacy Achievements Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC) AAFC Pest Management Centre (PMC) CanadaGAP and GFSI Recognition Destination Inspection Service (DIS) Single Licensing through the Safe Food for Canadians Act with the DRC named as the service provider Regulatory Cooperation Council Action Items (Crop protection, Financial risk mitigation, Plant health, Food safety) Canadian Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture (1 and 2)
From the beginning… CHC held a Research Symposium (facilitated plenary and breakout sessions) at the 2009 Annual General Meeting Defining our Future: Building a Framework for Innovation and Science in Canada’s Horticultural Sector AAFC presented early details on their new program Growing Forward – Accelerating the Pace of Innovation and Facilitating the Adoption of New Technologies CHC Members established the following priority themes for research: • Health and Wellness • Food Safety and Quality • Production, Production Systems • Environmental Performance of the Horticultural System (pest management) • Energy Management and Efficiency
Canadian Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture 1 (2010-13) Commodity Project Title Project Lead Advanced Postharvest Handling and Storage Technology for Canadian DeEll, OMAFRA Apples Tree Fruit Myles, Nova Scotia Agricultural Identifying genetic markers to enhance apple breeding in Canada College Percival, Nova Scotia Agricultural Wild Blueberry Environmental and Production Risk Mitigation System College Small Fruit Development of day neutral strawberries adapted to our changing Desjardins, University of Laval climate and sustainable production Tunnel-growing Systems for Raspberries Dale, University of Guelph Late Blight - Part 2: Assessing the efficacy of new fungicides and Ganga, Cavendish Farms fungicide combinations for control of late blight (Phytophthora infestans) Late Blight - Part 3: Function of phosphorous acid related compounds on Wang-Pruski, Nova Scotia Potato suppression of late blight in potatoes Agricultural College Vernon, Kabuluk and Noronha, Wireworm in Potatoes and Root Crops AAFC with industry participants Impact of liquid hog manure and irrigation management on broccoli Côté, IRDA, QC safety: field experiment Water Impact of irrigation on leaf lettuce and green onion safety: combining Côté, IRDA, QC the irrigation-harvest delay and the content of Escherichia coli in water
Canadian Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture 2 (2013-18) $2.8million industry + Theme Project Title Project Lead $6.8million Optimizing Storage Technologies to Improve Efficiency, Reduce AAFC Energy Consumption, and Extend the Availability of Canadian DeEll, OMAFRA = Apples for Domestic and Export Markets $9.6million Improving tree fruit storage management using weather based Apple Bourgeois, AAFC (QC) predictions of fruit quality at harvest Performance of Honeycrisp on New Size-Controlling Rootstocks Cline, University of Guelph New biological control agents for postharvest diseases of pome fruit Nelson, University of BC Understanding of Potato virus Y complex in Canada and Singh, Agricultural Certification Services (NB) development of a comprehensive on-farm management strategy Wireworm control in potatoes and strategic rotational crops in Vernon, AAFC (BC) Canada Development of a Rapid and Sensitive Triplex Nested Real-time PCR Tenuta, University of Manitoba Method for Quantification of Verticillium in Soil Potato Zebra Chip and Potato Psyllid Survey and Monitoring Johnson, University of Lethbridge Nitrogen Management for Improved Yield, Quality and Profitability Tenuta, University of Manitoba of Potato Canadian Potato Variety Evaluation Program Sonier, PEI Potato Board
Innovating for a strong future External CO 2 injury in ‘Empire’ apple
Immediate Impact • PVY Project • 2015 seed crop – 93% of lots with < 3% infection, compared to 8-15% infection 5 years ago • Detection and Monitoring of Potato Psyllid • Detection is at very low levels • Wireworm • Commercial traps for adults and IPM system are being developed
Planning for Cluster 3 Activity Timelines Commodity group strategy document development and updates: ongoing discussions 2016 Tree Fruit Small Fruit Commodity group priority setting Potato Spring & Summer 2016 Greenhouse Vegetable Finalize Priority Lists Fall 2016 Call for Proposals December 2016 Deadline for Proposals March 31, 2017 Tree Fruit Small Fruit Commodity Group review of proposals Potato April 2017 Greenhouse Vegetable Final decision on projects to be included in Cluster 3 application May 2017 Project leads finalize details Spring & Summer 2017 Cluster 3 application is completed October 1, 2017
Knowledge Transfer Activities
“We have quite a bit more work to do…” “Growers aren’t just going to willy-nilly start trying something unless it works and is accurate, and we can give them the, “ So what? What does this mean? ” Mario Tenuta, University of Manitoba
Maximizing Technological Transfer Encouraging end-users to engage in research projects and participate in knowledge mobilization activities Workshop Objectives 1. examine key challenges facing tech transfer in agricultural research 2. compare best practices and lessons learned 3. Identify opportunities to maximize the impact of new info, processes, products and technologies
Key Challenges • Communication • Administrative burden of flowing information • Are we the “knowledge broker”? Who can best communicate the results to the grower community? • Knowledge Translation • What do the results of this research really mean to growers? • Access • Results and reports are not always easily accessed or readily available, especially federal government research
Best Practices and Lessons Learned • Communications Plan for Cluster 2 • Semi-annual reports to industry • Articles in CHC publications: HortShorts newsletter and Fresh Thinking Magazine • Encourage researchers to attend and present at grower meetings, field days, farm tours, etc. • Showcase of success at 2018 CHC AGM (tbc)
Opportunities • Future development of tools • Success stories booklet – highlighting how growers have directly participated and benefited from Cluster 2 research and its results • Increased presence online – including a more robust Cluster 2 information page on CHC’s website (more frequent updates, links to industry publications, etc.) • Planning for Cluster 3 • Knowledge Broker – a communication officer with sole responsibility of working with researchers and growers, helping with the “knowledge translation” • Research projects need to include Tech Transfer as an activity
Opportunities • CHC’s Unique Position • The voice of Canadian horticulture • Association of associations • Coordination on a national level • Cluster holder • Connected directly with researchers and end-users, growers
For more information… Amy Argentino Manager, Projects and Programs Canadian Horticultural Council 2200 Prince of Wales Drive Suite 102 Ottawa, ON K2E 6Z9 T. 613 226 4880 (ext. 208) aargentino@hortcouncil.ca
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