Sunderland Co-op wins environmental award for N-WATCH™

Sunderland Co-operative was recognized along with five other environmental champions during a special ceremony hosted by the Durham Environmental Advisory Committee on May 14.

The co-operative was the recipient of the Eric Krause Innovative Plans/Policies/Initiatives Award for helping to fund and pilot N-WATCH (Nitrogen Management Strategy). This award is given to those who have shown forward-thinking efforts that encourage positive change with respect to the natural environment.

Developed by GROWMARK, Inc, the goal of the N-WATCH program is to investigate the complex dynamics of available nitrate and ammonium nitrate in plants. Additionally, N-WATCH and the results collected can be used to estimate the concentration of available nitrogen as the year progresses and to reduce nitrogen losses to the environment.

This specific N-WATCH program funded by Sunderland Co-op, focused in Durham Region with the results available to members of the co-op. Although the N-WATCH program was implemented at Shadyway Farms Ltd., the yield data and results are shared widespread so that others can benefit from the advantages of the program.

Due to the success of the test site location, the N-WATCH program will be launched province wide with more than 50 sites participating in the program in 2015.

Sunderland Co-operative was nominated for this prestigious award by Agricultural and Rural Affairs-Economic Development Division. 

Pictured below from (L-R): Alex Georgieff, Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development; Blain Thompson, Sunderland Co-operative General Manager, Warren Jibb, Sunderland Co-operative Director and GROWMARK, Inc. Director; Roger Anderson, Regional Chair and CEO of the Regional Municipality of Durham.  

Congratulations to the Sunderland Co-operative team!