Flowers Canada (Ontario)
Flowers Canada (Ontario) (FCO) is a not-for-profit provincial trade and professional association serving the Ontario floriculture sector.
FCO was one of the founding members of the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) in 1995. FCO currently serves over 180 members, including greenhouse growers, distributors, and importers/exporters of cut flowers, potted plants, bedding plants, cut greens, specialty suppliers and services to the industry. FCO assists members with solutions relating to trade and plant health, pesticide management, human resources, research and innovation, environment, marketing and risk management.
FCO’s mandate is to enhance the profitability and competitiveness of Ontario’s floriculture industry by helping members in addressing common issues, challenges and opportunities, thereby retaining and enhancing Ontario’s pre-eminent position in the floriculture industry in North America.
Using leading-edge technology, Ontario greenhouse growers produce hundreds of varieties of floriculture products for consumers throughout North America. Heat loss is a significant problem for greenhouse growers during the winter months. Plants transpire during photosynthesis, causing humidity build-up in the greenhouse, so vents are opened to bring in cold, dry air, resulting in heat loss. This has led FCO to initiate a research project to evaluate different dehumidification technology solutions to reduce greenhouse energy consumption. Through this research, four different technologies are being tested, at three different facilities, for their potential to reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.
This project received funding from Ontario through the Greenhouse Renewable Energy Technologies (GRET) research and development initiative, a program administered by AAC.