Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We've had a good discussion around plant breeding and how climate impacts are affecting agriculture.
We met recently with representatives of the eastern Ontario clean plant hub, the program up in New Liskeard. Again, with reference to the chair's comments earlier, they're concerned, because this an area that deals with the propagation through tissue culture of a number of crops and new incoming viruses on grapes, apples, asparagus, garlic, hops, tender fruit and potatoes.
The land for that program was sold in 2021. The research scientist, Dr. Becky Hughes, retired in 2012, and it has been maintained by technicians since then. The industry wants to know whether AAFC will continue that research position, because they believe that they can carry on that program elsewhere with an agreement between OMAFRA and the University of Guelph, but they are looking for AAFC to continue that research position. Can you comment?