Sudbury, Ont., seed producer helping expand national seed production through new partnership
CBC
A seed company in the Sudbury, Ont., community of Lively is helping with Canada's national re-greening efforts by working to expand national seed production.
Northern Wildflowers produces flower, grass, shrub, and tree seeds for home gardening and agriculture purposes.
The company is one of 13 recipients nationwide selected to receive funding from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada's Seed Orchard Program. It's an initiative which works to expand native seed production to increase seed supply for re-greening and land restoration efforts.
"The best process to re-green a large site is with seed through something called seed-based restoration," said Jenny Fortier, founder and CEO of Northern Wildflowers.
"So, you would apply seeds from the species that are native in that area. So, the seed is that key piece to being able to complete those projects."
Fortier said the partnership with WWF-Canada will provide funding to producers, including Northern Wildflowers, to hire and train more seed collector interns, and support growers in expanding their seed farming production.
"All of the other native seed growers in Canada that we talk with, everyone's expanding and growing as fast as they can to serve supply, but, you know, that's still within limitations," explained Fortier.
"So, this partnership really helps us to do that just a little bit faster."
She added the partnership comes as Canada works to meet its "30 by 30" pledge of protecting 30 per cent of lands and waters by 2030. Fortier said the largest obstacle challenging land restoration efforts is a lack of Canadian grown native seeds in the market.
WWF-Canada said on its website that increasing the native plant supply through initiatives like seed orchards is "essential."
"Restoring healthy habitats isn't possible without these locally-sourced seeds and we're delighted to work with this amazing group of grantees and partners to bring restoration projects to life," said Ryan Godfrey, community action specialist with WWF-Canada.
Since 2021, WWF-Canada says the seed orchard program has supported grant recipients in Ontario in planting 35,500 native plants in 20 seed orchards and harvesting 72 kilograms of seed from 142 different native plant species.
Students at the University of Regina are days away from deciding whether a newly formed student association should become their official representative body.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.
Prince Rupert, B.C., residents are celebrating the holidays this year with coastal flair.
In the four years Chelsey Simmonds has worked at the Eva Rothwell Centre, she has seen the need increase every year at the centre’s community food pantry.
CBC is once again looking to make the holiday season kind in Windsor-Essex.
Acute Care Alberta has extended its contract for another year with a private surgical facility at the centre of probes into health procurement and contracting.
As food bank use continues to climb across the province, front-line workers in Thunder Bay, Ont., are working to improve both food security and education.
More ads could soon be coming to Toronto’s subway system.
The driver wanted in connection with a fatal hit and run on Highway 401 earlier this week has been identified, police say.
There are mixed feelings about the proposed Grays Bay road and port project, among people who live in nearby communities.
WARNING: This story details allegations of child abuse and includes graphic content.
Provincial police in Lambton County have charged a 23-year-old man with second degree murder following a death investigation that began this past Saturday.
The Newfoundland and Labrador government is forming a working group to tackle what it calls systemic issues in the justice system, but answers or solutions could still be months away.