The PEI Potato Quality Institute (PQI) has expanded their facility in the West Royalty Industrial Park to offer local potato farmers 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 farmers.
“Our Government’s top priority is job creation and economic growth. The potato industry is an important driver for our Island economy, with billions of dollars in our economy. That is why we are pleased to support the PEI Potato Quality Institute,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie. “This investment will allow the PEI Potato Quality Institute to offer improved services to our farmers, helping Island small and medium-sized businesses to continue to create jobs and economic prosperity.”
“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, through ACOA, has invested $190,833 to help with the purchase new equipment for the facility. The Government of Prince Edward Island, through the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, PQI and the PEI Potato Board have also invested a combined investment of $381,667 to assist with required building renovations to facilitate the new testing procedures.
“We welcome this collaboration with both levels of government that will help our industry move forward with the most recent advances in testing technology. This will facilitate our participation in export markets and improve our testing procedures used to maintain crop health,” says Potato Board Chairman and potato grower Gary Linkletter. “We appreciate the government investment at the PEI Potato Quality Institute and are pleased that they recognize the contribution that our industry makes to the provincial economy.”
From left to right: Pat Quilty, PEI Potato Quality Institute;Minister of Agriculture and Forestry George Webster;federal Minister Gail Shea and Gary Linkletter, Chairman of the PEI Potato Marketing Board (Photo: Brian Simpson).
