This year, the Lethbridge Polytechnic reached ninth among the top 50 institutions in the country, according to a report released by Research Infosource Inc.

The institution continues to inch up the list, moving from 10th in 2024 and 11th in 2023.

Applied research began with Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Aquaculture Centre of Excellence in 1999, leveraging global expertise to meet the evolving needs of agriculture in southern Alberta.

WHY IT MATTERS: Southern Alberta college continuing to make its mark nationally with its various agricultural research to aid producers.

From those beginnings, the Centre of Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE) has expanded research operations significantly to encompass five themes:

• agriculture, food and environment
• business and technology
• health and wellness
• justice and public safety
• sciences, social sciences and humanities

“Being recognized for our applied research, when compared with so many other institutions across Canada, is a remarkable win for the polytechnic,” Kenny Corscadden, vice-president of academic and research, said in a press release.

“Over the past three years, we have consistently demonstrated our ability to compete at the national level. By offering applied learning and research opportunities for students and researchers in a growing number of industry and community-based sectors, Lethbridge Polytechnic is becoming an institution of choice for those interested in making a difference and taking their education and research to the next level.”

Throughout 2025, researchers at Lethbridge Polytechnic have been working on, or completing, research projects in a number of fields:

• Greenhouse lighting trials with Seyed Hashemi, research scientist
  
• CARIEDevelopment of youth-focused virtual reality (VR)
  
• Public safety exploration experiences with Dean Kolebaba, principal researcher, Centre for Public Safety Applied Research (CPSAR)
  
• Collaboration on non-destructive crop testing methods with Chandra Singh, Results Driven Agriculture Research chair and director of the Advanced Post-harvest Technology Centre (APHTC)
  
• Completion of VR training scenarios for an industry partner with Tyler Heaton, industry liaison and research adviser, Spatial Technologies Applied Research and Training Centre.

As part of a three-year College Spotlight, Research Infosource also ranked the polytechnic fourth in artificial intelligence (AI) research partnerships and AI completed research projects.

“By using AI tools in our research, such as analysis and modelling, we’re re-evaluating what’s possible — from new, non-destructive crop-testing methods in APHTC, to analyzing the ethical decision making of first responders with real-time conversational AI in CPSAR,” added Andrew Dunlop, associate vice-president of research.

“With these tools, we’re also seeing students pursue learning beyond the classroom in fields that matter to them.”

Earlier this year, the polytechnic profiled the journeys of two students , Aleksandra Calic and Sierra Stumborg, as paid student research assistants in the Mueller Irrigation Research Group and the Community Integration Through Art-Pissatsinaskssini program. Both students are counted among the 92 paid student researchers at the institution, a number that placed Lethbridge Polytechnic sixth nationally.

The polytechnic also ranked highly in several other categories:

• second in college research intensity dollars per researcher, at nearly $190,000 per
• third in college research income, at nearly $9.5 million
• ninth in research partnerships, of which the polytechnic has 62.

Additionally, Lethbridge Polytechnic celebrated a transformative $2.8 million donation from the estate of Joe and Laverna Hranac in August to support the continuation and expansion of applied research and innovation at the institution’s 385-acre research farm.

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“Big Marble Farms is a great example of what makes this region special,” said Justin Wright, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat, during a press conference at Big Marble Farms on Sept. 2. “This is the type of project that creates jobs, fosters growth and drives innovation.”

Big Marble Farms is a major player in the greenhouse industry. The farm is home to more than 496,000 cucumber plants, 385,000 tomato plants and 47,000 grow lights.

The operation is a family-run greenhouse that has grown fresh vegetables for Albertans all year round for more than three decades.

“You support jobs, feed our communities and keep our economy growing and strong. You’re a leader in sustainable farming the sweetest pepper varieties in Canada. And today we’re celebrating another big step forward,” said Rebecca Schulz, minister of environment and protected areas.

With the funding, Big Marble Farms is installing 5,000 new grow lights this fall. Since they will be able to grow more vegetables faster, and at a lower cost, more fresh local produce will be delivered to Alberta’s grocery shelves, said Schulz.

“It also means nearly $2 million in savings on energy bills, and a smaller environmental footprint, and fewer emissions. This is good news for our environment. It’s great news for our economy, and it’s good news for every single Albertan,” she said.

High energy costs are putting pressure on greenhouse operators, and when they struggle, our food supply does too, said Schulz.

By investing in technology, Albertans will have a stronger, more reliable food system, she said.

“We’re lowering costs, boosting production and keeping Alberta at the forefront of innovation,” she said. “The new lighting system will be up and running by November. That is fast.”

Luka Jungen, the director of energy efficient programming with the ERA, said it has had the pleasure of working with Big Marble Farms over the years, not just with the current grow light project, but with other projects through the Energy Saving Services Program.

“Improving the efficiency of Alberta’s industrial and manufacturing processes and facilities is the quickest, most cost-effective way to lower your energy bills, and stay competitive. Low hanging fruit, if you will,” he said.

Reducing emissions takes knowledge, expertise, training and capital, said Jungen.

“This $60 million program targets key industries in Alberta; agriculture, forestry, mining, utilities, construction, manufacturing, transportation and many more,” he said.

Eligible facilities can access up to $50,000 for energy audits, up to $250,000 to implement energy management information systems, up to $100,000 to participate in strategic energy management training, and up to $1 million to invest in energy efficient retrofit projects.

“At its core, this program is about setting up Alberta’s industrial and manufacturing facilities for long term energy management success, building stronger in-house expertise and dealing with ongoing cost of energy savings,” he said.

The program, known as Strategic Energy Management for Industry (SEMI), was launched 11 months ago, and has been a huge success, with over $13 million allocated in program funding.

“At this current pace and with this high demand, the program will likely be subscribed before the anticipated end date of March 2027,” he said.

The SEMI program is expected to deliver over $150 million in economic activity, and over 1,250 jobs, directly and indirectly.

There will be up to $100 million of energy expenditure reduction, and 24 million tonnes of lifetime emissions reductions from capital project implementation, he said.

“Big Marble Farms is one of 200 expected facilities participating in SEMI. This program is a real success story in the province,” he said.

Ryan Cramer, CEO of Big Marble Farms, thanked the ERA, SEMI and the government of Alberta for the grant.

“Your support means so much to us at Big Marble Farms, and it shows real commitment to innovation and sustainability in agriculture,” he said.

“Now, for those of you that might not know what it takes to grow year round here in southern Alberta, we start by adding light and extending our day as early as September, and then we slowly stretch the day until the cucumbers are getting 20 hours of light, and our tomato plants are getting 18 hours of light,” he said.

“I always find it interesting that even with all the lights on, the intensity can’t match what we’re seeing right now on this hazy, smoky September day, and this is why we make up for it with longer days. This funding is helping us to take a big step forward,” he said.

The new lights that will be installed are LED fixtures that put out twice the light of the current ones with the same electricity input.

Cramer said the total light levels will be boosted by 50 per cent.

“We’ve done a two-and-a-half-acre trial over the past year, and we’ve already proven that this leads up to a 15 per cent increase in production. That means more food with the same footprint. This will be a $5 million project overall, and we’re excited and proud to be investing $3 million of our own funds alongside this grant. That’s how much we believe in this technology and in its future for farming. If we applied this across all our lit acreage, it would be like expanding 70 acres to 80 acres of greenhouse production area without using up more land or building more greenhouses. This is a sustainability success story; more lighting, greater efficiency and more food for Western Canada,” he said.

The premier of Alberta was also in attendance.

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Exports of greenhouse-grown cucumbers also equal or exceed imports.

“Canada continues to rely heavily in imported fruits and vegetables, especially during its long winters,” wrote FCC senior economist Amanda Norris in a May 28 report.

“Different types of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) are gaining momentum to overcome this problem.”

While greenhouses are the most recognized form of controlled environment agriculture, the category also includes insect farming, aquaculture, lab-grown meat, and vertical farming, Norris added.

Opportunities

Due to their extended growing season and ability to stack crops vertically to reduce footprint, greenhouse-grown crops tend to yield more per acre than the same fruits and vegetables grown outdoors.

Canadian greenhouses can typically operate for nine months out of the year.

“The advantage is striking, ranging from five times more pounds per acre for tomatoes to an impressive 30 times more for herbs,” said Norris.

Along with growth in peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes, greenhouse-grown strawberries have also gained ground in Canada. Production went from neglible in 2020 to 16.5 million pounds in 2024.

Canada has also added 70 new operations and 19 per cent more greenhouse area since 2013 outside of Ontario, the hotspot for greenhouse ag.

Lettuce, herbs and strawberries represent areas for further expansion.

“To realize this opportunity, Canada must invest in practices to boost productivity through labour and resource saving technologies, research and development for new crops, and explore ways to bring CEA to more regions,” Norris wrote.

Downsides

Most fruits and vegetables Canadians eat come from outdoor farms or imports because many crops aren’t suited to indoor environments. Potatoes, for instance, require deep, loose soil.

Controlled environment agriculture—like much of agriculture—requires a lot of capital to set up due to the many systems and technology involved.

Operating expenses are also rising—up six per cent annually on average over the last decade. Sales rose by 6.4 per cent over the same period, which kept margins a bit above break-even.

Greenhouse agriculture also faces a labour crunch. The number of workers under age 60 has shrunk an average of eight per cent annually for the past five years.

Greenhouses also find themselves competing for limited municipal infrastructure like energy, water and waste services. This makes building or expanding more challenging.

“Investment and the adoption of technology will be crucial to overcoming high operational costs, address labour and infrastructure constraints, and allow the sector to reach its full potential,” Norris said.

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Whole Leaf, based outside Coaldale, about 20 km east of Lethbridge, was announced last week as the lettuce supplier for the chain’s 384 stores across Canada.

Wendy’s, in a July 14 release, billed itself as the first national brand in the Canadian quick-serve restaurant (QSR) industry to serve greenhouse-grown lettuce in all its restaurants across the country.

Wendy’s said Whole Leaf’s greenhouse technology allows it to “capture and reduce its water consumption by over 90 per cent compared to field-grown lettuce.”

Whole Leaf, on its website, said its process uses one litre of water to grow one head of lettuce, “compared to 100-120 litres of water used for field-grown lettuce.”

The company said its facilities today produce over 20 million heads per year, year-round.

Wendy’s said Whole Leaf also has an on-site process to capture both waste heat and carbon dioxide, cutting emissions and “allowing it to be completely self-sufficient for electricity and heating.”

The move to Whole Leaf also allows Wendy’s to source lettuce grown in “Canadian-sourced” peat, and “with zero pesticides.”

With “supply predictability and consistency” also expected from the move, Lisa Deletroz, senior director for marketing with Wendy’s Canada, said the shift to Whole Leaf will also allow the chain to “further support Canadian producers and the Canadian economy.”

“With more Canadians looking for sustainable products, this strategic partnership allows us to reach Wendy’s customers all-year round with high-quality fresh produce alongside a brand that — like (Whole Leaf’s retail brand) Inspired Leaves — is committed to quality and sustainability,” Whole Leaf senior director of sales Rindi Bristol said in the same release.

The company in 2018 took a similar approach to tomato sourcing across its North American chain, pledging to transition to an “exclusively” greenhouse-grown, vine-ripened supply by early 2019.

Wendy’s said at the time its tomatoes would come mainly from greenhouse farms in both the U.S. and Canada, “from sources that match our North American restaurant footprint.”

Wendy’s also said at the time that its tomato sourcing decision “further strengthens our commitment to responsible sourcing practices by providing safe, indoor working conditions, shelter from the elements and environmental contaminants, reduced water and land use burdens, and a significantly reduced need for chemical pesticides.” — Glacier FarmMedia Network

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Critics, however, contend more support is needed.

“This pilot will help to ensure that farmers and processors have the much-needed skills, experience and labour so we can grow our economy and improve our living standards for all of Canada,” Marco Mendicino, federal minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), said during a May 22 virtual meeting of the Commons standing committee on agriculture and agri-food.

The Agri-Food Pilot, which began accepting applications May 15, is a three-year program aimed at providing a pathway to permanent residence for seasonal workers who already have one year of experience working in Canada.

The work must be non-seasonal and full-time in one of the pilot program’s eligible industries: meat processing, greenhouse/mushroom production or livestock production.

Up to 2,750 applicants will be admitted each year into the program until it expires in May 2023.

“The objective of the pilot project is to provide a pathway to permanent residency for the temporary foreign workers and as a pilot project it recognizes the contribution of workers, and the workers’ relationship to Canada. I’m quite optimistic we can continue with this pilot,” Mendicino said.

The measure was in the works prior to the COVID-19 pandemic — largely because of calls from the meat industry to put something like it in place — but the timing, given the labour challenges arising from the pandemic, has been welcomed by industry stakeholders.

Already some concerns over the program are being raised, however. Critics say a provision requiring applicants to verify their level of education is costly and difficult to obtain for many applicants.

Marian Campbell-Jarvis, assistant deputy minister for IRCC, confirmed to committee members the government requires proof of education from applicants.

“With these pilots and bringing them into the country, we actually want to position them for success and ensure they can settle and establish here,” she said, suggesting this is why proof of a high school diploma is required.

Mendicino’s comments on the pilot program came during a committee meeting that covered various challenges around access to foreign labour in the midst of the pandemic.

The minister said Canadian officials continue to face challenges in working with other governments to ensure workers are coming to Canada.

“There are conditions outside of Canada, in other countries that cause the offices to be closed so we’re still addressing the issues with our partners outside of Canada to improve the various processes that occur in those foreign counties,” he said in French, adding a special team has been created within his ministry to approve applications in a timely fashion.

“We’ve made a lot of progress and we will still keep trying to find solutions to greet those temporary foreign workers.”

He recognized there are some “regional disparities” between provinces and the rate of temporary foreign worker arrivals, but discounted a lack of co-operation between provinces and federal officials as a reason why.

Mendocino said his office is looking at how to increase the arrival rate – notably in British Columbia – but said he likes the progress being made in Ontario and Quebec, suggesting resources need to continue to flow to government officials to ensure the timely arrival of workers. No province-specific numbers on the rate of arrivals were made available.

He said his government, “will continue to consult and refine the process.”

Government officials also said they have looked at the idea of introducing a trusted employer program in Canada to expedite the paperwork for some companies bringing in foreign labourers.

According to Louis Dumas, acting associate assistant deputy minister of operations for the federal department of citizenship and immigration, there were roughly 3,000 fewer temporary foreign workers confirmed in March 2020 than in March 2019. In April 2019, there were roughly 11,000 temporary foreign workers compared to around 13,000 last year.

“We are tracking a little behind,” he said, later adding there have been great efforts to reduce the need for paperwork and anything else that deals with the administrative process of applications.

He, too, noted the challenge of bringing enough workers to Canada is largely one based in other countries. Mexico offices continue to move slowly or are closed, while the eastern Caribbean is just beginning to allow workers out. Trinidad and Tobago is still determining how it would move forward with processing applications.

Critics continue to argue more support is needed from the federal government, despite the introduction of the pilot project and other measures to assist in the labour issue, including a $50 million fund to help employers cover the cost of mitigating impacts of the virus for the safety of their foreign workers.

‘Nobody there’

Days after Mendocino’s appearance, the committee heard from Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst, executive director of the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC), that a national labour strategy is needed to ensure stability within the sector.

“The industry cannot continue to produce healthy, safe and affordable food for Canadians and for global consumers without ensuring workers are secured and in place to do their job, the Covid-19 pandemic has put a greater spotlight on this,” she said during a meeting Wednesday, noting the job vacancy rate across some sectors of the industry is as high as 10 per cent.

Ken Forth, president of the Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Service (FARMS), said the news of border closures early in the pandemic was “devastating” and “started the massive stress that still remains” on many producers.

He told the MPs roughly 8,700 workers were expected to arrive in Ontario when Canada’s border closed, bringing everything to a “standstill” until farmers were able to ensure proper measures were in place — and exemptions were granted — to allow foreign workers.

Ensuring those proper methods were in place came at a costly price, Forth testified, telling the members there has been “nobody there with us.”

Money to assist farmers is difficult to access, he said, because some of the programs have too many stipulations attached.

Forth said asparagus production in Ontario will likely drop 50 per cent, while many vegetable producers have cut back production by up to 25 per cent. Meanwhile, producers of strawberries, grapes, fruit trees and other commodities are worried they’ll have nobody to take their crop off in the coming months.

“If that kind of devastation happens on any farm, next year isn’t going to happen,” he said.

— D.C. Fraser reports for Glacier FarmMedia from Ottawa.

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“It opens the value chain from the agricultural side,” said Joel Beatson, whose organization joined Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association in requesting greenhouses, nurseries and garden centres be classed as essential businesses.

“There are various levels of greenhouses and nursery centres that are wholesale only. They need garden retailers whether they are independent or large-box-style retailers to be able to sell that product.

“It was important to keep that value chain open.”

Most businesses in this sector do 80 per cent of their sales in spring.

“It’s not like the product can just be held for six months and sold again,” said Beatson. “The product literally becomes compost. Being closed at that time just isn’t feasible.”

Greenhouses started growing bedding plants and flower baskets in February.

“All of that money and labour has been spent in terms of potting, planting and growing and everything up to that point — if the market got completely closed down, that would be a massive problem,” he said. “Our growers are farmers, but not in the traditional sense that the general public understands.”

As well, consumers need gardening centres to be open too, given the sharp rise in interest in growing your own food, he added.

“We’re monitoring what is happening right across North America,” said Beatson. “That food security idea is incredibly strong and being adopted by consumers. You’re going to see more people starting to grow some food at home this year.”

Given the number of novice gardeners, he expects there will be “varying levels of success.” But even if their veggie harvest is minimal, people will be getting exercise and alleviating some of their stress, he said, adding it’s also an activity most homeowners can safely do on their own property.

Gardening centres and retail nurseries will follow the same procedures as grocery stores — limiting the number of customers in the retail area, reconfiguring their setup to ensure social distancing, and frequently cleaning high-touch areas.

His association has been in contact with its North American counterparts to share best practices while the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association has offered webinars for store owners.

“We’re trying to provide really good education and resources and options so people can operate safely,” he said.

Many small independent garden centres have quickly adopted an online business model, said Beatson.

“Some of these people are seasonal and really small,” he noted. “Maybe they’re only open three months a year. So having an e-commerce website is not high priority, but they’ve actually shifted.

“I’ve been really impressed with Alberta’s ability to try to adjust.”

Many of the garden centres are looking at online booking, so customers can schedule a time to pick up their order.

The Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association has about 150 members while Landscape Alberta has about 300 members.

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Most non-essential businesses in Canada were shut in mid-March as officials urged people to stay home, but in recent weeks many of the country’s 10 provinces, with the exception of Ontario, have allowed garden centres and nurseries to operate.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford gave the green light this week to garden centres to open their doors on Friday — two days before Mother’s Day, a key date for plant sales.

Sales in Canada’s greenhouse, sod and nursery sector increased by 2.4 per cent to $4 billion in 2019, with Ontario accounting for 54.9% of total sales, Statistics Canada data shows.

“We usually figure if you don’t have the bulk of your sales done by June 15, it’s been a bad year,” said Jamie Calibers, growers’ manager for the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association.

But from March to Easter in April, flower growers lost 40 per cent of their sales, Andrew Morse, executive director of Flowers Canada Growers, told Reuters. Projected industry losses could be as high as $625 million by June 1.

Though the gardening season varies across the country, the bulk of sales are concentrated in April, May and June.

Kuyvenhoven Greenhouses sold 50 per cent of what they had budgeted to sell at Easter, Andy Kuyvenhoven said, forcing him either to give away flowers or throw them in the trash.

The Kuyvenhoven farm in Brampton has grown about 50,000 square feet of potted flowers such as calla lilies and mums for Mother’s Day.

“Heading into Mother’s Day, our concern is the same: Is the market going to be open enough so that we can sell the product?” Kuyvenhoven said.

At the Peter Knippel Garden Centre in Ottawa, owner Kennedy Johnston said there’s been an “incredible spike” in customer demand because people have taken up gardening while being forced to stay at home during the pandemic.

The garden centre is doing online orders and curbside pickup. “We’re getting a lot of new customers,” Johnston said.

“It’s been a little bit of chaos… but we feel very fortunate to be busy,” he said, adding that demand for edible products, such as vegetable plants and fruit trees, had doubled.

— Kelsey Johnson reports on Canadian economic policy for Reuters from Ottawa.

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AAFC has been sending “mixed messages” about its plans, Pam de Rocquigny, general manager of the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association, said in an interview Saturday.

Her association, along with cereal grower commissions in Saskatchewan and Alberta, haven’t given up hope that some of AAFC’s more important research projects will go ahead on a case-by-case, region-by-region basis, and is urging AAFC to find ways to make it happen.

“They (AAFC) haven’t come out and said extremely black and white, it’s not happening,” she said.

A statement Friday from AAFC seems to all but rule out field work this spring, but leaves the door open a crack.

Why it matters: Prairie farmers rely on improved crop varieties to keep them competitive. Most of that research and plant breeding is done by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, with some farmer funding through checkoffs collected by the Prairie wheat and barley commissions. No AAFC research this season means farmers will wait longer for new varieties. It could also disrupt researchers who collaborate with AAFC.

“In response to public health orders, AAFC research centres scaled their operations to critical services only,” the department’s statement said.

“These actions do not allow, at this time, for field-based research projects that require physical presence in our fields or laboratory facilities, nor non-field research in laboratories and greenhouses to be conducted. We recognize that the situation is evolving quickly and at different paces across the country.

“We fully appreciate that the window for planting varies across the country, and is already upon us in some areas. We are cognizant of the impacts of a reduced field season and are working to minimize long-term impacts. We also recognize that projects are unique in their requirements.

“As such, AAFC is developing and updating various plans and strategies on how we will resume research activities when restrictions are lifted or reduced across the country. AAFC is monitoring the situation closely and is committed to working with our collaborators as we explore how and when we can initiate further science activities.”

de Rocquigny wants a clearer answer.

“There has been some work done behind the scenes to see what work could be done,” she said. “So we’ve been pressuring them to say what the drop-dead date for those decisions to be made. ‘At this time’ means right now, but they’ve also said they are assessing things so we’re unclear as to whether the decision has been made.

“In talking with them, there seems there still might be a window. When they say ‘at this time’ is totally different than them saying ‘we’ve pulled the pin on the 2020.’

“When things are not 100 per cent clear they are open to interpretation, assumptions.”

AAFC says it wants to keep employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Safety needs to be paramount, but university and private company crop researchers have found a way to protect staff and continue some of their work, de Rocquigny said.

“Why can’t they?”

AAFC says it it has recently decided to “steward” its land and resources.

It will also provide some critical, time-sensitive services to the agricultural sector, including:

• Distribution of breeder seed to seed producers, and the mitigation of pest infestation on AAFC land to protect adjacent property.
• Protect the long-term integrity of science assets through genetic material, land, orchard and vineyard stewardship, including seeding with crops, applying fertilizer, pruning and spraying vineyards and maintaining long-term — greater than five-year — crop rotations.
• Protect research infrastructure such as irrigation systems or major scientific equipment.

“We recognize that the situation is evolving quickly and at different paces across the country,” AAFC’s statement said. “In terms of the planting season, approximately 20 per cent of the department’s research projects are dependent on spring planting.”

“It’s not 100 per cent clear that there’s no field season,” de Rocquigny said. “They are saying things are evolving and things could change. They need to say one way or the other in very clear terms if it is not happening.”

If AAFC doesn’t clarify soon, it will be too late to prepare plots and seed anyway, de Rocquigny said. “We don’t want that to happen either.”

If AAFC doesn’t go to the field, or its research is significantly reduced, it raises questions, including whether multi-year research agreements with the farmer commissions will be extended.

“If there is no field season then we start to tackle those financial questions,” de Rocquigny said in an interview Thursday.

“We want a timeline. What is the drop-dead date? I don’t know if they know that, or if they do they haven’t shared it.”

— Allan Dawson reports for the Manitoba Co-operator from Miami, Man.

AAFC’s statement on 2020 field research due to COVID-19

The health and safety of our employees, and all Canadians, is the primary consideration in the Department’s decision-making with respect to science-related activities.

In response to public health orders, AAFC research centres scaled their operations to critical services only. More recently, the department has implemented additional actions in order to steward our land and resources in this context. We are also providing some critical time-sensitive services to the agricultural sector. These activities include:

• Distribution of breeder seed to seed producers, and the mitigation of pest infestation on AAFC land to protect adjacent property;
• Protecting the long-term integrity of science assets through genetic material, land, orchard and vineyard stewardship (i.e. seeding with crops, applying fertilizer, pruning and spraying vineyards and maintaining long-term — greater than five year —crop rotations); and
• Protecting research infrastructure (i.e. irrigation systems or major scientific equipment).

These actions do not allow, at this time, for field-based research projects that require physical presence in our fields or laboratory facilities, nor non-field research in laboratories and greenhouses to be conducted. We recognize that the situation is evolving quickly and at different paces across the country. In terms of the planting season, approximately 20 per cent of the department’s research projects are dependent on spring planting.

We fully appreciate that the window for planting varies across the country, and is already upon us in some areas.

We are cognizant of the impacts of a reduced field season and are working to minimize long-term impacts. We also recognize that projects are unique in their requirements. As such, AAFC is developing and updating various plans and strategies on how we will resume research activities when restrictions are lifted or reduced across the country.

AAFC is monitoring the situation closely and is committed to working with our collaborators as we explore how and when we can initiate further science activities.

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Les Serres Lefort, which operates almost 50 acres of greenhouse facilities at Sainte-Clotilde in Quebec’s Monteregie, announced Sept. 10 it had filed a notice of intention on Sept. 6 to file a proposal with Quebec’s Superior Court.

The filing of the notice of intention effectively stays any proceedings against the Lefort business, pending court approval of its proposal.

Documents posted by bankruptcy trustee Raymond Chabot lay out about $44.68 million in debts owed to three secured and 148 unsecured creditors — the secured creditors being financial co-operative Desjardins ($31.68 million), provincial business development lender Investissement Quebec ($6.9 million) and RBC Banque Royale ($1,911).

Reasons for the company’s filing weren’t given in the documents available online, but company president Sylvain Lefort was quoted Tuesday in La Terre de chez nous, the news arm of Quebec’s Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), as saying the company’s returns from organic vegetable production fell short of its targets.

Lefort also told the newspaper he was in the midst of negotiations to ensure the company’s operations would continue.

La Terre also quoted Claude Laniel, president of Quebec greenhouse grower group Producteurs en serre du Quebec, as being concerned that whatever new investors or owners take over the business might set aside Lefort’s organic expansion plans in lieu of restoring profitability in the shorter term.

Television network TVA, in a separate report Monday, said it had information tying the company’s financial troubles to production problems and cost overruns in Lefort’s organic cucumber and bell pepper business.

Les Serres Lefort, in business since 1984, produces an estimated 65 per cent of Quebec’s plant grafts for crop propagation, and grows greenhouse lettuce sold under the Mirabel brand. In 2013 it began marketing vegetables, including organics, under the VOG and VOG BIO brands.

The company in 2016 announced a $27 million investment to add almost 20 acres of new greenhouse space at Sainte-Clotilde, an expansion it said would make it one of the largest producers of organic greenhouse vegetables in North America.

The company said at the time it expected to produce over 500,000 cases of organic cucumbers annually on a year-round basis, plus over 250,000 cases of bell peppers in a March-to-December growing season each year.

“It’s time that we stopped watching our out-of-province competitors and that we use our own resources and expertise to develop our industry,” Sylvain Lefort said in a release at the time. “This is the beginning of a great adventure that will hopefully snowball in an industry that deserves to grow.” — Glacier FarmMedia Network

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Mucci Farms, based at Kingsville, just west of Leamington, announced Wednesday it has bought a controlling stake in Leamington-based Orangeline Farms, the grower of Zing Healthy Foods greenhouse peppers.

Financial details weren’t disclosed in Mucci’s release Wednesday, but CBC in Windsor reported Friday that Mucci paid about $30 million for a 75 per cent stake in Orangeline.

Duffy Kniaziew, whose family founded Orangeline in 2000, keeps the remaining 25 per cent share, CBC said.

The deal for Orangeline comes with a 32-acre greenhouse plus a warehouse and 100 acres of additional land, Mucci Farms CEO Bert Mucci said in the company’s release.

“We also have plans in place to build on the additional land that was received as part of the agreement,” he said.

“It’s an exciting time for the company as we continue our aggressive expansion plans to increase our local and regional production,” he added. “Consumers are demanding more local production, and we’re listening.”

Mucci owns and operates 250 acres of tomato, pepper, cucumber, lettuce and strawberry greenhouses in Canada and the U.S. and works also with North American “partner-growers” covering another 1,500 acres.

Mucci said Wednesday it will continue to use Orangeline’s Zing brand “for the foreseeable future” since the brand has “quietly established itself among retailers and consumers.”

“Duffy and his team have done a great job with the brand and it’s familiar in our region, so we’re not looking to make any dramatic changes at the moment,” Mucci marketing director Emily Murracas said in Wednesday’s release.

“In searching for growth opportunities for both Orangeline’s staff and our ever loyal customers, the chance to partner with a world class organization like Mucci Farms was an easy decision to make,” Kniaziew said in Mucci’s release.

Mucci on Wednesday also said it has bought another 15 acres adjacent to the 60-acre tomato greenhouse operation it started developing in 2017 at Huron, Ohio, about 80 km west of Cleveland on Lake Erie.

“The first 24-acre phase is in its second season of harvesting, and we’ll be building two more identical ranges. Phase two construction is already underway,” Bert Mucci said.

The Leamington region, according to Mucci, has one of the warmest climates in Canada outside British Columbia’s lower mainland.

The region is also home to the largest concentration of greenhouses in North America, hosting most of Ontario’s 3,000-odd acres of crop production under glass, the company said. — Glacier FarmMedia Network

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