Saint-Modeste, Quebec, January 26, 2011 – Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, Bernard Généreux, Member of Parliament for Montmagny–L'Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup, today announced the granting of $248,920 in non-repayable funding to the Québec Peat Moss Producers Association (APTHQ – Association des producteurs de tourbe horticole du Québec) to implement a project aimed at developing and testing rehabilitation and restoration techniques for peatlands at the end of production.
"The Government of Canada's support for this project of the Québec Peat Moss Producers Association is meant to help peat moss producers compete in the domestic and international marketplace," said MP Généreux.
The sound management of peatlands is one of the peat industry's priorities. Over the next two years, the APTHQ will, in collaboration with eight sphagnum peat moss producers, test various tasks and processes that should enable them to develop expertise in the restoration and rehabilitation of peatlands. Based on the results, which will be shared with the entire industry, the Association wants to give peat moss producers the tools to position themselves in niche markets committed to environmentally responsible processes.
The sphagnum moss industry operates in a market that goes hand in hand with global greening trends and companies must increasingly implement practices that meet recognized certification standards. APTHQ's project is part of a North American horticultural sustainability certification program – VeriFlora® – in which the Quebec peat moss industry has been involved for the past two years; certain APTHQ members were certified for the first time in fall 2010.
The peatlands restoration and rehabilitation project follows the results of the first phase of a study completed in fall 2010 on the life cycle analysis of sphagnum peat moss. The data collected were used to help the producers analyze their environmental performance and identify ways to improve every process stage so as to ensure sustainable management of the resource. Canada Economic Development awarded the Association a $55,625 contribution to conduct this study.
The funding from Canada Economic Development has been awarded through the Business and Regional Growth program, which supports enterprises in their efforts to improve their performance, become more competitive and engage in more innovation.
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Sources:
Claudie Lamontagne
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-722-3280
Cell.: 418-750-0995
E-mail: claudie.lamontagne@dec-ced.gc.ca
Benoît Fortin
Special Assistant, Communications
Office of the Honourable Denis Lebel
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-997-3319
E-mail: benoit.fortin@dec-ced.gc.ca
