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Federal government boosts Canada’s landscaping industry with CNLA funding

The Canadian government is throwing its support behind the country’s nursery and landscaping industry.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food has made an investment of nearly $1.5 million for two projects with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) to help capture new opportunities for market growth and boost exports.

The announcement by Marie-Claude Bibeau coincides with the launch of Canadian Garden Council’s Year of the Garden 2022, which commemorates and celebrates Canada’s horticulture sector and rich garden heritage. The year 2022 is the centennial of Canada’s ornamental horticulture sector, marked by the 100th anniversary of the CNLA.

“Canada’s ornamental horticulture sector is the largest part of our horticulture industry,” Minister Bibeau said. “This investment will help the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association develop its market and increase its exports, which means growth for local businesses.”

Up to $1.36 million in funding through the AgriMarketing Program will support CNLA’s efforts to increase the percentage of domestic market share of nursery products and increase international exports to targeted countries. The funds will support promotional initiatives, including marketing activities for Year of the Garden, as well as incoming and outgoing trade missions, delivery of technical training, attendance at trade shows, market research and trade advocacy.

“The impact of ornamental horticultural plants on societies ability to adapt to climate change and provide healthy environments has never been so well understood,” Anthony O’Neill, president, CNLA, said. “Investments by both industry and government will assure Canadians that we are committed to making a difference in their lives. By securing a vibrant and progressive sector of horticulture that expands its domestic and international markets, we show respect to our planet and its people. The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association in partnership with AAFC is deeply committed to expanding markets for our horticultural sector.”

An additional $111,309 in funding through the AgriAssurance Program will help CNLA to modernize the Clean Plants program and enable Canadian growers to assure domestic and international customers that the plants they sell are free of pests and diseases.