VINELAND STATION, Ontario, Sept. 24, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Board of Directors of Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (Vineland) announced today the appointment of the Honourable Lyle Vanclief as Board Chair effective immediately.
Mr. Vanclief has been a Director of Vineland since 2011 and succeeds John F.T. Scott who will continue to serve Vineland as Past Chair for the next year.

“Agriculture has always been my passion,” said Mr. Vanclief, “and given the importance of horticulture to the Ontario economy, I’m pleased to take on this new role with Vineland and explore opportunities for continued innovation and cooperation across the industry and with all levels of government.”

Mr. Vanclief was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 1988, and re-elected in 1993, 1997 and 2000. He served as opposition critic for agriculture, then as Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food before joining the Cabinet for six-and-a-half years as federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs from 1997 until 2003. He retired from politics in 2004.

Mr. Vanclief has been honoured as a Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada and with the inaugural Canadian Spirit of the Independent Award by the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers. In 2010, he was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame and served as Honorary Chair of the 2011 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress. He continues his commitment to serving the Canadian industry as an agricultural and food consultant.

About Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

With a highly-skilled research team, oversight from an independent Board of Directors, engagement from an international Science Advisory Committee and collaboration with more than 160 global partners including a Stakeholder Advisory Committee, Vineland’s goal is to enhance Canadian growers’ commercial success through results-oriented innovation. We are an independent, not-for-profit organization funded in part by Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. For the latest on our research and partnerships, visit www.vinelandresearch.com

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=36373

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