Key Takeaways:
- The Ontario government has allocated $3.5 million to Brock University for a sustainable agricultural initiative.
- The funding will support the Clean Agriculture for Sustainable Production (CASP) Field Infrastructure project.
- This initiative will expand Brock’s grape and wine research to include other agricultural sectors.
- The project aims to enhance sustainability and resiliency within Ontario’s $ 5.5 billion grape and wine industry.
- A ceremony marked the research farm’s development commencement on April 26.
Introduction to the CASP Project
Brock University has received a significant boost from the Ontario government with a $3.5 million grant from the Ontario Research Fund – Large Infrastructure Fund program. This funding is part of a dual investment with another $3.5 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, aiming to advance the university’s grape and wine research into broader agricultural horizons through the Clean Agriculture for Sustainable Production (CASP) Field Infrastructure project.
Research and Collaboration
Under the leadership of Sudarsana Poojari, Principal Scientist, and Assistant Professor Jim Willwerth at Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), the project will foster a collaborative environment involving multiple institutions and industry partners. CCOVI Director Debbie Inglis highlighted the provincial government’s role in promoting sustainability and resilience in Ontario’s lucrative grape and wine industry.
Celebratory Launch
The funding announcement was commemorated with a small ceremony held at the future site of the research farm, located south of Brock’s main campus. Both academic leaders and government officials, including Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, and Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, attended the event, recognizing the strategic importance of this investment in local and provincial agricultural development.
Project Phases and Goals
The CASP project is divided into three pivotal phases:
- Clean Plant Program: Initiating the development of a national grapevine germplasm repository to produce certified virus-free grapevines, reducing dependency on imports and addressing supply chain vulnerabilities.
- Precision Agriculture and Ecological Interactions: This phase focuses on how these clean grapevines interact with other plants and organisms, aiming to select more resilient crops and enhance agricultural diversification.
- Urban Applications: The final phase will utilize the research farm as a test bed for pioneering agricultural techniques in urban settings.
Expertise and Collaboration
The project team comprises a diverse group of Brock researchers, including Liette Vasseur, Kiyoko Gotanda, Shengrong Bu, Alonzo Zavafer, and Ping Liang. Additionally, national collaborators such as Simone Castellarin from the University of British Columbia and Caroline Provost from the Centre de recherche agroalimentaire de Mirabel in Quebec will contribute their expertise.
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