The Crop Development Branch is comprised of two sections:  

Crop Development Section 
The Crop Development Section is responsible for strengthening competitiveness and sustainability and for facilitating development and innovation in the cranberry, field crop, greenhouse, vegetable, nursery, landscape, small fruit, tree fruit, wild blueberry and apiculture sectors. The section also promotes the adoption of IPM (integrated pest management) principles for the management of pest populations in an effective, safe, economical and environmentally sound manner. Where opportunities exist, the section also develops and promotes the adoption of organic food production practices within the agriculture sector. For additional information, call 506-453-2172.

Potato Development Centre
The Potato Development Centre’s mandate is to strengthen the primary and value-added growth, competitiveness, innovation, and sustainability of the NB potato sector. Expertise is provided in plant propagation; seed, table and processing production; potato physiology; potato IPM; and innovative technology. The Plant Propagation Centre and the Bon Accord Elite Seed Potato Centre also falls under the mandate of the Potato Development Centre. For more information on the Potato Development Centre (located in Wicklow), call 506-392-5199 or visit the Web site:   http://www.gnb.ca/0029/10/0029100001-e.asp.

Plant Propagation Centre
The Plant Propagation Centre initiates and multiplies disease-tested tissue cultured potato material. Nuclear Stock plantlets and microtubers are produced, and become the basis for New Brunswick's seed potato industry. The Plant Propagation Centre is an accredited nuclear stock production facility that complies with the requirements of the Canada Seeds Act. The Centre maintains the AA-Canadian Potato Variety Repository with a collection of over 480 varieties/seedlings and supplies disease-tested tissue cultured nuclear stock potato plantlets and microtubers to New Brunswick’s potato industry. The Centre provides an aseptic environment, specially designed to prevent the entry of potato pathogens and other pests. For more information on the Plant Propagation Centre, call 506-453-2717 or visit the Web site: http://www.gnb.ca/0029/10/0029100006-e.asp.

Bon Accord Elite Seed Potato Centre
The Bon Accord Elite Seed Potato Centre produces top quality, high class seed to the New Brunswick potato industry. The Centre delivers Nuclear and Elite seed potatoes to New Brunswick producers to encourage high quality potato production and reduce losses due to potato diseases. Bon Accord produces a range of varieties, enabling New Brunswick seed growers to rapidly respond to changing market demands.  For more information on the Bon Accord Elite Seed Potato Centre, call 506-273-4741 or visit the Web site: http://www.gnb.ca/0029/10/0029100004-e.asp.

For additional information on the Crop Development Branch, call 506-453-2108 or visit the Agriculture and Aquaculture Web site at: http://www.gnb.ca/0027/Index-e.asp.