Green Potato-Growing Initiatives

Cavendish Farms has launched a landmark sustainability program on Prince Edward Island, committing CAD 17 million over five years to advance resource-efficient potato production. Central to the initiative is a 300-acre research farm near O’Leary, outfitted with precision irrigation systems, soil-moisture sensors and variable-rate fertilizer applicators. These technologies enable real-time adjustments to water and nutrient inputs, targeting reductions of up to 30 percent in irrigation use and 20 percent in fertilizer application compared with conventional practices. The farm will also trial cover-crop rotations, reduced tillage and integrated pest-management strategies to enhance soil health, limit erosion and minimize agrochemical runoff.

Beyond on-site trials, Cavendish Farms is partnering with the provincial Department of Agriculture, academic researchers and local growers to disseminate best practices across the island’s potato sector. The company will host quarterly field days, publish performance data and offer technical support to participating farms, with the goal of scaling proven methods across PEI’s 40,000 acres of potato cultivation. Early results from pilot plots indicate stable yields alongside measurable improvements in soil organic matter and nutrient-use efficiency, underscoring the program’s potential to strengthen both environmental resilience and farm-level profitability.

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