The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) and the University of Windsor have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that aims to address the unique challenges facing the greenhouse vegetable sector — energy resilience, sustainability, and economic growth.

This partnership will accelerate the development of made-in-Canada strategies that integrate cutting-edge research, technology, and policy to ensure a thriving and competitive greenhouse industry, says FVGC president Marcus Janzen.

“This collaboration with the University of Windsor highlights the innovation that characterizes Canada’s fruit and vegetable growers,” he says. “Now more than ever we need smart food policies that strengthen food security, drive economic growth, and support the resilience of Canadian agriculture.”

Both parties recognize the growing need and urgency for made-in-Canada solutions.

The growers’ Greenhouse Vegetable Working Group plays a critical role in informing policy and regulatory decisions that support sector profitability and sustainability, maintain and enhance market access and trade, and ensure an innovative, competitive sector with a strong growth agenda. Its national, sector-led development of the Canadian Greenhouse Excellence Network is one part of a strong Canadian approach to solve complex challenges with evidence-based policies that meet the triple bottom line of economic, environmental, and social sustainability.

The University’s Agriculture UWindsor (AgUWin) project is focused on developing and integrating innovative technologies, scientific advancements, and educational programming with benefits to the greenhouse and broader agricultural sectors.

“The University of Windsor’s extensive expertise in automation, energy, industrial engineering, and talent development lends itself extremely well to solving complex agricultural challenges,” says Shanthi Johnson, UWindsor vice-president, research and innovation. “The partnership will help to embed the express and real needs of the sector into the University’s educational programming and research pipeline.”

Essex County is home to the largest acreages of greenhouse agriculture in North America and second in the world only to the Netherlands. AgUWin is well-positioned to deliver the infrastructure, expertise, and experience to develop and integrate innovative technologies and scientific advancements useful to the greenhouse and broader agricultural sectors.

As Canada navigates the complexities of food security, sustainable energy, and economic resilience, partnerships such as the one between FVGC and the University of Windsor are critical to ensuring a thriving fruit and vegetable sector.

Richard Lee, vice-chair of the Greenhouse Vegetable Working Group, notes: “Greenhouse vegetable growers contribute $4.8 billion annually to Canada’s economy, supporting year-round jobs and the supply of fresh, nutritious produce for all Canadians. We need evidence-based policies, feasible on-farm energy options, research, innovation, and funding incentives, to position the sector for success.”