Features Production Research
Innovation at VRIC drives change for hort

September 21, 2010,
Vineland, Ont – Dr. Jim Brandle, CEO Vineland Research and Innovation Centre,
opened the Vineland campus doors today to share latest science and innovation
work with industry partners.

September 21, 2010,
Vineland, Ont – Dr. Jim Brandle, CEO Vineland Research and Innovation Centre,
opened the Vineland campus doors today to share latest science and innovation
work with industry partners.

“Vineland is
transforming leading edge research into innovations that will bring prosperity
to the Canadian horticulture sector. Our industry partners expect this,” said
Dr. Brandle. “Today’s open house gives us an opportunity to
showcase our results and to prove the value of innovative research in Canadian
agriculture. A modern organizational model built on government, industry and
science collaboration is absolutely necessary to achieve success.”

Latest industry-driven
research at VRIC includes:

• refining variety and
  growth requirements for world crop production locally;
• commercializing new
  peach, pear and plum varieties;
• developing drought
  tolerant plants for water conservation;
• analyzing local vs.
  organic consumer purchase patterns; and,
• investigating highway
  tree planting survival methods for a greener, healthier environment.

“With a start up in
2007, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre is still a young organization.
Yet we have already amassed an excellent team of researchers and business
professionals who are working skillfully across the value chain to assess what
is needed for a highly competitive sector,” commented Donald Ziraldo,
VRIC’s chair. “Vineland research partners such as Campbell Company of
Canada and Longo's and Loblaw are showing us that if we want to be successful
horticulture players on the global stage we have to be close to the consumer.”

In order to build on these
early successes, in 2011 Vineland will implement a major facility
revitalization plan designed by Diamond + Schmitt Architects, modernizing
facilities and creating new spaces. A capital campaign in support of the plan
is being chaired by well-known Canadian gardener and public figure, Mark
Cullen.