Cavendish Farms has announced plans to build a new potato research facility in Prince Edward Island (PEI), writes CBC. The center will be located in New Annan and will absorb an investment of CAD6m which will see the creation of a new research and plant-breeding center.

According to Mary Keith, vice-president of communications for J.D. Irving Limited who was cited by the report, the facility intends to work to address potatoes that are more resistant to challenges such as warmer temperatures and drier growing conditions. The company is also hoping to cut down the amount of soil it uses.

With these purposes in mind, the new facility will feature a greenhouse allowing the company to do research year-round on things such as soil, evaluate climate and seasonal conditions and access potatoes with promising traits such as superior yield.

The new Cavendish Farms Research Center is expected to open its doors in 2020 and to create four full time and up to twelve seasonal jobs.