Complete list of our partners.
Canada is the largest horticultural peat producer of the world. The main use of Canadian peat moss is horticulture: home gardeners (40% of the total peat production), professional growers (40%) and mushroom growers (10%). Other uses, such as filtration represent about 10% of the total peat production. Québec and New Brunswick account for 30 % and 38%, respectively, of the Canadian peat moss production, while western Canada, mainly Alberta, produces the remaining (30%). Around 17,000 ha of peatland are used for peat moss extraction in Canada, and an additional 5,000 ha will be harvested within the next 10 years. Peat moss harvesting creates approximately 3,000 seasonal and permanent jobs, located mainly in rural regions.
Provincial governments are responsible for the management of peat extraction, and regulations differ from province to province. In Québec and New Brunswick, peat extraction is considered to be mining and requires authorization either by the Ministry of Natural Resources or the Ministry of the Environment. In New Brunswick, 85% of cutover bogs are on public lands, whereas in Québec, about 50% are publicly owned. New regulations are currently being activated in New Brunswick, obliging the industry to mitigate harvested sites according to precise criteria.
Our industrial partners recognize the importance of sound resource management for environmental, social and economic benefits. The Canadian peat moss industry has voluntary chosen to adapt to new international standards, and has agreed with enthusiasm to support our research to improve peatland resource management.
The Chair is funded equally by the peat industry and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The Ministry of Natural Resources of New Brunswick as well as other academic agencies also contribute to the research program.