Ontario Court Rules on Greenhouse Carbon Monoxide Crop Loss Insurance

The Ontario Court of Appeal has revived a legal battle between a greenhouse operator and an insurer after a tomato crop was destroyed by carbon monoxide. The case centers on whether the primary cause of loss was the gas itself or the failure of the boiler and monitoring equipment designed to prevent such leaks. This ruling highlights the complexities of insurance coverage for commercial greenhouses that use carbon dioxide enrichment to boost plant growth. It emphasizes the need for clear distinctions between equipment failure and pollution events in agricultural insurance policies.