Manitoba invests in future of cereal grain industry

Apr 14, 2025
By Jean-Paul McDonald
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Manitoba Invests $13M in Global Grain Exchange Initiative

The Manitoba government is investing $13 million to help Cereals Canada create the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (GATE) in downtown Winnipeg.

This new centre will support local farmers and processors by opening new opportunities for international grain trade.Premier Wab Kinew says this move supports Manitoba’s farming economy and helps protect jobs.

“Agriculture is the backbone of Manitoba’s economy, and this investment will protect jobs as farmers and producers are facing a trade war on two fronts,” said Kinew. “This new exchange will help showcase Manitoba’s grains to the world and help drive up global demand for high-quality Canadian grain products.”

Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation Minister Jamie Moses says the province is working with Cereals Canada to boost innovation and attract more investment to Manitoba. “This partnership will protect Manitoba jobs and deliver opportunities for long-term growth in Manitoba,” said Moses.

The GATE facility will include spaces for research, innovation, and training. It will have a pilot bakery, pasta production area, specialty milling, and office space. These facilities will help showcase the high quality of Canadian grains and support education and development in grain-based food products.

“Canada produces some of the highest quality grains in the world and that gives us a unique advantage,” said Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn. “Retaining Cereals Canada in Winnipeg will solidify Manitoba as the centre of the Canadian grains industry and a hub for global trade.”

“This is a substantial investment from the Manitoba government for the future of Canadian cereals,” said Dean Dias, CEO, Cereals Canada. “Gate is an essential investment in diversifying our markets and mitigating trade risk, providing global buyers with trusted technical knowledge and expertise, and maintaining Canada’s leadership as a trusted and consistent supplier of high-quality cereal grains.”

The project also supports downtown Winnipeg’s renewal. The province is combining this investment with other local projects like the Portage Place Health Centre of Excellence and the Your Way Home homelessness strategy. Together, these efforts aim to make the downtown area safer and more vibrant for residents and visitors.

Video: Veteran Farmers: A Legacy of Service in Rural America

Veterans Day is a time to honor the men and women who have selflessly protected our freedoms and values. And for some, the transition from military service to civilian life brings them back to the farm.

At Farm Bureau, we believe it’s important to not only celebrate veterans but also those who continue to make a difference in agriculture and their community. We've partnered with Farm Credit to establish the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence to shine a light on those who have continued to go above and beyond to serve their communities.

This year, we recognize retired Colonel Joe Ricker as the inaugural Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence winner. Joe served over 30 years in the Army before retiring from the Pentagon and completing tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army, his commitment to excellence in farming and enriching the lives of veterans has blossomed in a myriad of ways in both his local community of Wilkinson, Indiana, and across the country. Joe grows apples and raises bees on his farm in Indiana. Joe founded “Veterans IN Farming,” an organization, now with more than 1,100 members, dedicated to providing veterans in Indiana with the tools and training to succeed in agriculture.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization, comprised of and directed by farm and ranch families who engage in all types of food, fuel and fiber production.