The P.E.I. Potato Quality Institute has expanded their facility to offer local potato growers more efficient disease testing, thanks to investments made by the federal and provincial governments and industry partners. This new expansion will allow for the addition of a potato disease testing facility and improve efficiencies for Island potato growers.
"A strong potato sector requires healthy seed, and this funding ensures lab testing is conducted in Prince Edward Island," said Prince Edward Island Minister of Agriculture and Forestry George Webster. "This will also allow the industry to be more competitive in global seed markets."
The Government of Canada has invested $190,833 to help with the purchase of new equipment for the facility. The government of P.E.I., through the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, P.Q.I. and the P.E.I. Potato Board have also invested a combined investment of $381,667 to assist with required building renovations to facilitate the new testing procedures.
SOURCE: Spud Smart