Annapolis Valley agricultural researchers aim to help pot growers

Legalized cannabis presents an opportunity in Nova Scotia, says Viliam Zvalo, CEO of Perrenia, the provincial development agency that helps farmers, fishermen and food processors improve their businesses and industry.

Zvalo spoke to members of Horticulture Nova Scotia at an event in Wolfville Nov. 8.

He said the cannabis industry has an estimated value in Canada of $5.5 billion, about one-third the value of tobacco and a quarter of alcohol.

“There’s definitely room for growth,” he said, saying the eventual approval of edibles and beverages containing cannabis will help.

He said there were 800 metric tonnes of marijuana produced by growers in Canada last year, with 93 per cent of that for medical use.

“It’s surprising that for a crop that was illegal a few weeks ago, there is a lot of data,” Zvalo said.

He said Perrenia’s board has opted to invest in the support of the cannabis industry, buying equipment that can test up to 400 different pesticides, as well as a lab to support research into product development for such things as cannabis drinks and edibles.

The lab is scheduled to begin operating in February.

“That was the bigger vision, the testing was just to get our foot in the door, and work with industry,” he said after the presentation.

Getting cannabis into bever- ages is an area where there is a lot of interest, he said, as well as food products.

“There seems to be an endless amount of enquiries there as well,” he said. “We will work with the industry to overcome technical barriers and work with the industry to develop exciting products.”

But despite the opportunities for growers across the country, the fledgling industry does create some hurdles, Zvalo said.

“I think it’s a challenge for the growers, because labour is one of the biggest challenges for Canadian agriculture, period. The cannabis industry coming on top of that, I think it throws the industry in a bit of turmoil.”

He said the cannabis industry uses the same types of people with the same skills as greenhouse produce growers.

“There have been, inherently, a lack of growers in the industry, so this puts a different challenge on the top of the existing challenges they face,” Zvalo said.

He said growers in Nova Scotia have an opportunity to get involved in the cannabis industry, but most likely in getting a micro licence, which allows them to grow up to 400 square metres of cannabis and then supply it to larger producers.

“That would be the opportunity,” he said. “Beyond that, we don’t have a huge greenhouse industry here, just because of where we are and the cost of electricity, or energy period.”

He said local producers have been in touch with the new lab because they want to test their product locally, which means a faster turnaround and crops approved and shipped sooner.