June 15, 2019 – Niagara, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti, on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, was at the Konzelmann Estate Winery today to announce more than $2.3 million to the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network (CGCN).
“Canada’s vineyards have become an important part of our national economy. With this funding, the Canadian Grapevine Certification Network will help ensure that growers have access to high-quality, locally-sourced grapevine stock to keep their fields healthy and prosperous” said David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
The CGCN will receive the funding through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriAssurance program to create a network of certified, virus-free grapevines that Canadian grape growers can plant in their vineyards to ensure the long-term viability of the Canadian grape and wine sectors.
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Canada’s wine industry generates revenues of $1.2 billion and employs over 5,600 people. Exports of wine in 2016 equalled $133.6 million.
As part of this project, CGCN will catalogue and assess existing samples from nurseries and grape growers across Canada. A database will then be used to trace back every vine produced through this program and planted in a grower’s vineyard back to the mother plants. This will help the CGCN keep Canada’s vineyards virus free.
About The Canadian Grapevine Certification Network
The CGCN is a collaboration between the Grape Growers of Ontario, the British Columbia Wine Grape Council, l’Association des vignerons du Québec, and the Grape Growers Association of Nova Scotia.
