New research highlights the sustainability of Ontario fruits and vegetables

A new study finds that over the past two decades, Ontario fruit and vegetable growers have widely adopted a range of practices that support sustainable local food production.

This includes investments in technologies and practices that support more efficient use of water, energy and fertilizers; use of tools such as soil testing and ground covers; and reducing the use of water and synthetic pesticides.

“As we celebrate Earth Day, this research clearly shows that Ontario fruit and vegetable growers are prioritizing sustainable production and have voluntarily made great strides over the past two decades in adopting practices that achieve both environmental and economic sustainability support,” said Shawn Brenn, a vegetable grower and president of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (OFVGA). “We are a proud part of Ontario’s food system and we want Ontarians to know we are doing our part to ensure a greener future for us all.”

In the greenhouse horticulture sector, 95% of respondents use water-efficient irrigation systems, insulation for more efficient energy use and biological pest control systems. More than two-thirds say they have installed more energy-efficient boilers, climate control and irrigation systems over the past twenty years, as well as heat storage and energy curtains and screens to reduce their energy consumption. About half have switched to more energy-efficient lighting, and almost a third are using renewable energy and/or capturing and reusing carbon for crop growth.

In outdoor cultivation, 85% of growers indicate that they use crop scouting and pest monitoring to focus on crop protection applications only when necessary. 80% use soil test results to more accurately guide fertilizer application, and 78% plant cover crops to maintain soil health. healthy and support carbon capture.

The research also shows that growers are willing to make changes and that addressing broader industry issues around competitiveness, taxation, bureaucracy and regulatory burdens combined with incentive initiatives will make it easier for growers to expand their adoption of sustainable practices.

“We have made tremendous progress over the past two decades and growers are willing to do more, but growers must also be financially viable, which includes a streamlined regulatory environment, financial investment and consumer support,” adds greenhouse grower Jan VanderHout. , Chairman of the OFVGA Committee on Environment and Nature Conservation. “Fruit and vegetable production is an essential pillar of our local food system, and it is critical to Canada’s national security that we do everything we can to preserve and protect our ability to grow healthy, safe and sustainable produce. “

The research was completed last year by the Vineland Research and Innovation Center and included a combination of surveys and in-depth interviews with growers from across Ontario’s fruit and vegetable sector.

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