MONTREAL, Oct. 13, 2026 /CNW/ -- Canadian vegetable growers operate in a competitive environment and face many challenges including labour shortages, profitability concerns and the increasing impacts of climate change. By investing in cutting-edge technologies, the Government of Canada is working to increase sustainability, drive economic growth, and foster resilience in Canada's agricultural sector.
Today, Patricia Lattanzio, Member of Parliament for Saint-Léonard--Saint-Michel, Quebec, on behalf of the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced an investment of up to $497,562 for the Association des producteurs maraîchers du Québec (APMQ) through the AgriScience Program – Projects Component under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. This funding will support the development of a decision support system (DSS) that will help improve the efficiency, productivity and competitiveness of lettuce growers.
The project supports the adoption of innovative agricultural technologies within the sector by integrating and optimizing digital tools to monitor crop growth. The DSS will combine forcasted weather data with data collected under commercial production conditions by a remote sensing tool developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers and VegForecast.
By working with local producers to optimize predictive tools, the project aims to enable growers to make informed decisions, reduce labour costs and food waste, and maximize yield. The Government of Canada is committed to helping producers become more competitive and resilient by leveraging technology to overcome challenges.
Quotes
"The challenges faced by our vegetable growers are complex, but innovation can provide practical solutions. By continuing to invest in innovative projects, we are paving the way for a more sustainable, competitive and prosperous future for the sector."
- The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
"This project is a prime example of how technology can empower our local vegetable growers to overcome labour shortages, improve profitability and compete in a global market. I'm proud to see Quebec's agricultural community leading the way in innovation."
- Patricia Lattanzio, Member of Parliament for Saint-Léonard--Saint-Michel, Quebec
"The APMQ enthusiastically welcomes any opportunity to push innovation in agriculture, where productivity and competitiveness issues are crucial. We would like to thank Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for its commitment to knowledge development, and we are confident that other opportunities for collaboration will emerge in the near future."
- Catherine Lefebvre, President, Association des producteurs maraîchers du Québec
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1925, the APMQ is a Montreal-based non-profit organization that brings together Quebec's leading vegetable and horticultural producers.
- The APMQ manages the Place des producteurs, the largest wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Eastern Canada.
- More than 70% of Quebec's vegetable production comes from APMQ members.
- AAFC researchers have developed a decision-making support tool that analyses drone imaging data to provide growth predictions of individual lettuce plants as well as forecasts of optimal harvest dates at least two weeks in advance under commercial growing conditions.
- VegForecast is a commercially available crop intelligence platform developed by Canadian agtech company, Innoptech.
- The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is a $3.5-billion, 5-year agreement (2023 to 2028), between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food, and agri‐based products sector.
- The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable CAP, provides funding and support for pre-commercial applied science and research and development activities to find solutions to sector challenges and accelerate innovation in the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.
Additional Links
- AgriScience Program – Projects Component
- Association des producteurs maraîchers du Québec (French only)
- VegForecast - Innoptech
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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Contacts: For media: Jennica Klassen, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, [email protected]; Media Relations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 613-773-7972, 1-866-345-7972, [email protected]
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