The Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) is an Ottawa-based voluntary, not-for-profit, national association that represents fruit and vegetable growers across Canada involved in the production of over 120 different types of crops on over 14,237 farms, with farm cash receipts of $5.4 billion in 2019.
Since 1922, CHC has advocated on important issues that impact Canada’s horticultural sector, promoting healthy, safe and sustainable food, and ensuring the continued success and growth of our industry.
CHC is actively preparing for the opportunity to establish a fourth Canadian AgriScience Cluster for Horticulture under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) next agricultural policy framework for 2023-2028.
AgriScience Clusters are intended to mobilize industry, government and academia through partnerships, and address priority themes and horizontal issues that are national in scope.
In recent months, CHC has consulted with industry members through our commodity Working Groups to update National Research and Innovation Priorities.
At this time, we are seeking Expressions of Interest from Canadian researchers who would like the opportunity to participate in the Canadian AgriScience Cluster for Horticulture 4 in the following Research and Innovation priority areas (including but not limited to) for the apple industry:
- Maximizing Quality & Minimizing Losses
- Technology, Mechanization, Automation and Efficiencies
- Sustainable Practices
- Variety & Rootstock Development & Evaluation
- Enabling Strategy: Knowledge Translation & Transfer
- Broad Marketing Strategy
In addition to the above noted strategic priorities, there is support for the creation of a National Promotional Research Agency (NPRA). It is felt that the benefits to the sector of the creation of such an agency would include better coordination, collaboration and funding on research initiatives.
Please complete the Expressions of Interest Form and return it to CHC by end of business January 30, 2022, via email to: cluster4prep@hortcouncil.ca with the subject line: APPLE – EOI – YOUR NAME.
If you require any assistance in preparing your EOI or have any questions regarding the Cluster application process, please do not hesitate to contact me at aargentino@hortcouncil.ca