Collaborating to advance innovation in Nova Scotia horticulture

An organization representing berry and vegetable growers in Nova Scotia and Canada’s only agriculture-focused innovation accelerator have agreed to work together on innovation and growth opportunities.

Posted: Nov 9, 2022

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BerryHorticulture HNS

Bioenterprise Canada & Horticulture Nova Scotia sign MOU

Guelph ON/Kentville NS (9 November 2022) – An organization representing berry and vegetable growers in Nova Scotia and Canada’s only agriculture-focused innovation accelerator have agreed to work together on innovation and growth opportunities. Horticulture Nova Scotia and Bioenterprise Canada, Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that launches their collaboration.

“Food sufficiency is of growing importance to countries around the world and, given the labour-intensive nature of many fruit and vegetable crops, the horticulture sector represents particular growth opportunities for innovation and technology,” says Dave Smardon, CEO of Bioenterprise Canada. “This new partnership with Horticulture Nova Scotia further strengthens Bioenterprise Canada’s footprint in Atlantic Canada as we continue to expand and diversify our national innovation network across the country.”  

Horticulture Nova Scotia is a member-based organization that represents vegetable, greenhouse vegetable, strawberry, highbush blueberry, bramble, and related nursery stock growers in the province. The organization supports, promotes, and advocates for its grower members regionally, provincially and nationally, particularly on issues relating to profitable production and long-term growth of the sector.

“We seek opportunities that will help our growers be as efficient and as competitive as possible, including access to further knowledge and opening doors to new opportunities, innovations and partnerships,” says Horticulture Nova Scotia Executive Director Marlene Huntley. “This new collaboration with Bioenterprise Canada will help us develop new and beneficial relationships that will help advance and grow our sector.”

Bioenterprise Canada is Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, bringing almost 20 years of industry experience and a national and international network of research institutions, academia, mentors and experts, government, and industry to help small and medium-sized businesses in the sector nationwide Connect, Innovate, and Grow. Through its experienced service partner network, Bioenterprise Canada offers a wide range of expertise and support to its clients, and partnerships with other industries help open doors to new technologies and platforms to help food and agri-tech businesses innovate and grow. Visit https://bioenterprise.ca/ to learn more.

Horticulture Nova Scotia is a not-for-profit commodity organization formed in 1998 to represent the interests of its members, who are growers of vegetables, strawberries, highbush blueberries, bramble, and related nursery stock. The organization actively promotes its members and its industry, especially through partnerships, research, and advocacy. Learn more at http://horticulturens.ca/.

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For more information:

Dave Smardon, Bioenterprise Canada, dave.smardon@bioenterprise.ca or 519-821-2960
Marlene Huntley, Horticulture Nova Scotia, marlene@horticulturens.ca or 902-678-9335

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