Innovation Economy

Table of Contents

1. Oriental Fruit Moth Mating Disruption Field Demonstration
2. Improved Handling and Quality of Fresh-cut Apple Slices
3. Development of Sweet Potatoes as a Commercial Crop in Ontario
4. Developing a Commercial Hazelnut Industry for Southern Ontario
5. Lavender Evaluation Study
6. Industrial Uses of Tobacco
7. DNA Barcoding - Implications for Ontario Agriculture

Oriental Fruit Moth Mating Disruption Field Demonstration

Although research and demonstration trials in Ontario have previously proven the efficacy of mating disruption (MD) products for oriental fruit moth (OFM), trials have not focused on the efficacy of MD for
season-long oriental fruit moth control. Cost of MD products is often cited as a reason for slow adoption of this relatively new technology, and season-long MD use would remove the most expensive insecticide used for OFM in the current recommended conventional pesticide strategy.

A new type of MD dispenser, the "RAK 5 OFM" dispenser should be available to Ontario peach growers by 2007. This collaborative demonstration project with BASF Canada, Engage Agro and growers, sought to demonstrate the season-long efficacy of this product for OFM management and to provide a cost comparison between MD and current pest management options. Demonstration trials such as this, combined with continuing education efforts, help to promote the use of this environmentally sound alternative for pest management.

This successful demonstration project showed MD provided OFM control equivalent to a conventional pesticide approach. Economic analysis showed that use of MD was approximately the same or slightly less expensive than conventional treatments, given a lack of secondary pest problems. This technology can improve the uptake of mating disruption, reducing expensive insecticides, resulting in a positive environmental impact while producers remain competitive.

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"(These) studies extended our practical knowledge significantly, with leading innovative growers, by integrating this technology with their current practices."

- Scott MacDonald, Horticulture & Specialty Products Manager, BASF Canada, Inc.

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Improved Handling and Quality of Fresh-cut Apple Slices

The purpose of this ongoing project is to improve quality of apples used for fresh-cut slices, to work with apple growers and packinghouses to ensure optimum postharvest handling of raw product (whole apples), and to evaluate the performance of various new apple cultivars for slicing, including two new non-browning selections from Quebec.

A client expressed the need for shelf-stable apple slices. This was in response to increasing consumer demand for healthier snack options, which parallels the Ontario Government's objective of increasing the consumption of safe and nutritious food.

This project is a collaborative effort between Crop Technology Branch staff, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Pride Pak Canada, Ontario Apple Sales Group, and the Agricultural Adaptation Council.

These apple slices continue to be a featured item at McDonald's, with sales exceeding expectations since the national launch last year. Apple volumes have already doubled and it is anticipated that the volume will more than double again next year. This type of project underscores the importance of agricultural research and extension in providing innovative solutions to human health and nutritional needs and is an excellent example of how Fresh-cut Apple Slices Team won the Agri-Food Innovation Award for Innovation in 2005!

Development of Sweet Potatoes as a Commercial Crop in Ontario

Some 600 acres of sweet potatoes were grown by 20 entrepreneurial farmers generating a farm gate value in the order of $3 million.

In recent years, Crop Technology Branch staff working in cooperation with University of Guelph researchers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers and the agri-business community have contributed to:

• sweet potato variety selection
• fine tuning of cultivation and post harvest practices
• minor use registration of herbicides, and
• implementation of financial support programs.

In support of a growing sweet potato industry, Ontario farm equipment manufacturers have fabricated specialized harvesters, sorting and packing equipment. Several state-of-the-art curing and storage facilities have been constructed to enhance shelf life and quality.

It is becoming more common to see Ontario grown sweet potatoes on supermarket shelves throughout the fall and winter months. Ontario's fresh cut and processing sector is also expressing interest in the potential of developing value-added sweet potato products for the consumer.

Crop Technology Branch staff, in cooperation with growers and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, began investigating the feasibility of growing industrial type sweet potatoes as a biomass fuel crop for ethanol. Harvested yields of three high starch, high sugar varieties from four on-farm trials ranged 13 to 20 ton per acre. Ethanol yields were calculated to range 1292 to 2479 litres per acre.

In recent years, Crop Technology Branch staff organized on-farm field days for growers, agri-business and the food industry. The 2005 sweet potato field day held at a
Simcoe-area farm attracted some 180 persons.

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"Sweet potatoes are an ideal crop to grow on sandy type tobacco soils. They are highly nutritious, available for Thanksgiving dinner and several months thereafter."

- Sandy DeCarolis, Grower

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Developing a Commercial Hazelnut Industry for Southern Ontario

In 2004, hazelnut imports into Ontario were valued at over $5.6 million. Recently, a major confectionary manufacturer located productions facilities in southwestern Ontario and expressed an interest in exploring the potential to access inputs such as hazelnuts locally. This presents an opportunity for Ontario growers to look at a new crop and new markets.

The purpose of this project was to determine the actions required to develop a commercial hazelnut industry in Ontario that would meet the requirements of fresh market quality and qualities demanded by large confectionary manufacturers.

It was determined that:

• European hazelnut cultivars that are utilized by primary producing countries will likely not survive in a productive state under Ontario minimum winter temperature conditions.
• A native fungal disease called Eastern Filbert Blight would be a serious limiting factor to the survival of European hazelnuts, even where effective fungicides are applied as control measures. Winter injury plus blight infection kills European hazelnuts within 5 to 10 years of planting.
• Hybrid crosses of European and native North American hazelnuts that are tolerant to the lowest winter temperatures encountered in southern Ontario orchard regions, and hybrid crosses that are tolerant to Eastern Filbert Blight disease are underway in the northeastern U.S.

Although the hybrid hazelnuts have not yet proven themselves as successful candidates for a commercial hazelnut industry, they show very good potential to initiate research testing in Southwestern Ontario.

Discussion is underway to pursue a collaborative effort between Ontario nut growers, OMAFRA Crop Technology Branch staff, Food Industry Competitiveness Branch staff, University of Guelph tree nut researchers, the manufacturer, specialists and researchers from U.S. and B.C. Key learnings to date will assist in developing a value chain approach.

Lavender Evaluation Study

The Lavender Evaluation Study began in 2003 and will run to 2006 or 2007 in collaboration with the University of Guelph, OMAFRA and the Ontario Herb Growers Association. The objective of this project has been to observe variations in plant quality and select clones that are suitable for the Ontario climate and needs. The project was intended to assist growers who are considering lavender as an alternate crop in Ontario.

A rating scale for the identified qualities was developed. In 2005 clones that encompassed characteristics of plant shape, winter hardiness, flower position, colour, abundance and scent were selected.

The rating scale was presented at the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Interested growers have since formed a lavender "club" to assist one another in establishing a base of production in Ontario. Growers will be trained in clonal selection. Each member of the "club" will be planting 100-200 plants of six different market varieties and selection of clones will take place as time progresses.

The goals of the lavender club are to establish lavender as an agri-tourism crop for pick-your-own sales and farm market sales of value-added products. The long-term goal of the lavender club is to establish lavender as an oil crop in Ontario. This will require selection of different features than pick-your-own. Future plans include oil quality analysis, training in steam distillation techniques for on-farm distillation for value-added products. Future plans also include crossing selected clones to develop a marketable "Ontario" variety for oil production.

One of the key messages will actually be to "Take it Slow and Think Before You Jump" to encourage growers to evaluate the business of growing alternate crops before investing. This is a cautionary message that should go to all those considering hers as alternate crops. A one-page handout will be prepared for the Ridgetown Diagnostic Days on the potential for lavender and the caution about risks associated with rushing into herbs.

Lavender is more than a pretty smell! Lavender oil can be used to treat burns as well as to soothe the senses through aromatherapy. Oil from lavandula stoechas can be used to repel flies and moths. There are many "cosmeceuticals" that can be developed from lavender - bath products, creams, shampoos, body rubs and perfumes. It is an ideal plant to develop a farm market around or to be part of existing farm markets. It lends itself well to pick-your-own and can attract busloads of city day-trippers who want to enjoy the beauty and fragrance of a lavender field - not to mention a lavender festival that features lavender cuisine. While access to the international oil market is years away, it too is a possibility.

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Projects Initiated in 2006

Industrial Uses of Tobacco

This project has the potential to develop a new, bio-based agricultural industry in Ontario by using tobacco as an industrial crop for the production of bio-chemicals, proteins and biomass for energy. Not only could it provide an economically viable diversification opportunity for current flue-cured tobacco growers, but it could act as a model for the development of other crops as bio-factories producing industrially useful chemicals and proteins.

This research should produce best practices documents dealing with the agronomics of growing tobacco at high density, baseline knowledge of how to handle and process large amounts of plant material, information on the chemical composition and yields of tobacco and amaranth grown for protein and biomass farming, and a statistically strong analysis of the feasibility of growing tobacco as bio-factory/biomass crop. Also, the portion of the study dealing with tobacco that produces antibodies will provide valuable information on how to optimize the extraction of these small proteins and the type of yield that can be expected. A supply of antibodies for use in commercialization studies will also be obtained.

This project is a good example of collaborative research between different levels of government and academia. This collaboration between researchers with different skills increases the potential of successfully developing a new, bio-based agricultural industry in the tobacco growing areas of Ontario.

DNA Barcoding - Implications for Ontario Agriculture

DNA analysis offers the potential to identify insects to species more accurately and quickly than traditional taxonomic methods. Before this can occur, insects of known identification have to be entered into a database of DNA barcodes. This project aims to develop a database of significant insects (to Ontario agriculture), including both pests and beneficials.

Major commercial biocontrol companies around the world have agreed to be a part of this project and have committed to sending samples of all their product lines for inclusion. Applications have been made to various agricultural sectors (horticultural crops, greenhouse crops), to provide funding to assist the University of Guelph with this task.

In addition, a major joint funding application has been made by Flowers Canada and the University of Guelph to conduct a feasibility study investigating the miniaturization of the analytical machinery, with the goal of producing a portable device that would enable rapid identification of insects and mites at U.S. border crossings.

Key players in this project were OMAFRA staff, University of Guelph, Biocontrol producers, Flowers Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).

OMAFRA staff identified key practical applications for this technology, with the potential to provide far-reaching benefits to Ontario agriculture. Staff were instrumental in bringing together industry associations and researchers from the University of Guelph, facilitating the development of project proposals aimed at meeting the above goals and objectives.

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