Solutions are in our nature.
What We Know So Far
Canadian greenhouse vegetable growers are dedicated to excellence, and are known for their early adoption of new technology and sustainable practices. The sector is engaging in a national conversation to develop a research network that is aimed at bringing together stakeholders at the critical intersection of energy, food, and the environment. Importantly, the development of the proposed Canadian Greenhouse Excellence Network (CGEN) will advance our collective opportunities towards the vision for Canada as a world leader in sustainable agriculture and agri-food.
We Need Your Voice To Shape a Canadian Greenhouse Excellence Network.
The CGEN PowerHours are 60 Minute, highly interactive, national roundtable events. They are conducted across Canada in-person and online. Register here to join the CGEN PowerHour Invite List to learn about future offerings.
NEXT CGEN PowerHour Will Be Announced Here.
Why Its Time Has Come
The Canadian Greenhouse Excellence Network (CGEN) is being positioned as a game-changing, strategic building block that will enable a greenhouse-specific roadmap and help meet the Government of Canada’s ambitious GHG emissions-reduction targets to 2030/2050 including:
-
Canada’s 2030 AGENDA aims action towards the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
-
GHG emissions-reduction target of 40-50% below 2005 levels by 2030;
-
Fertilizer-use emissions-reduction target of 30% below 2020 levels by 2030;
-
Canada’s target is for net zero emissions by 2050.
Key Links
Canadian Greenhouse Excellence Network (CGEN) will bridge the gap between today’s realities, emerging research, new technologies, and the enabling policies, resources and investments required for implementation.
Under a strong public-private partnership model, the network, or central hub, aims to provide growers, researchers and solution providers with better ways to connect, collaborate, validate and commercialize from the basis of grower-identified challenges and opportunities.
What Will The Network Do?
CGEN will
-
foster collaboration: bring together a network of highly qualified personnel (HQP) and expertise from across various disciplines in academia, government, and industry that is inclusive, highlights regional diversity, and leverages existing research centres;
-
advance the sector: focus on national greenhouse vegetable research and innovation priorities, regional strengths, grower’s business needs and opportunities, while simultaneously improving knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) that supports early adoption and achieves strategic outcomes for the sector;
-
deliver certainty within the complexity: address emerging competitiveness issues, while amplifying opportunities for the sector to contribute to climate action, food security, and economic resiliency in an era of disruption.
What Does CGEN Long-Term Success Look Like?
-
Evidence-based guidance for complex issues, multi-jurisdictional public investments aligned with private business investments, growth and diversification opportunities with demonstrated feasibility and value, as well as made-in-Canada solutions.
-
Finally, we expect the network will enhance resiliency, and add a layer of confidence in the face of uncertainty, thereby enabling the Canadian greenhouse vegetable industry to further elevate its rising global position as world leaders in sustainable agriculture.
SAMPLE RECENT ACTION - CHECK IT OUT!
Energy and Emerging Pests Loom Large in CGEN PowerHour1!
-
Stakeholders from Canada and the Netherlands attended and contributed to CGEN PowerHour1 held on Thursday, November 10, 2022.
-
The CGEN Concept was introduced and inputs were gathered interactively with our Lively! Audience.
Biosecurity Ranked High in Training Concerns and Improved Research Team Collaborations Highlighted in CGEN PowerHour2!
-
A very broad Stakeholdering Cross Section turned out for our PowerHour2 Thursday, November 24, 2022.
-
Our vocal audience offered many insights into the major issues facing the sector today and tomorrow.
Communication Was Cited As a Major Barrier to Agency Linkages and Support for a Central Hub to Improve This was Given Strong Support in CGEN PowerHour3!
-
Participation continued to climb in PowerHour3 as it eclipsed PH1 and PH2 combined.
-
This stakeholder array came from all over Canada!
CHECK OUT RESULTS OF CGEN NATIONAL CAMPAIGN!
Recently Presented at the Inaugural CGEN Annual Summit in Ottawa 2023
