The Manitoba government is moving ahead with a second round of funding for the Cereals Canada–led Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) project.
Premier Wab Kinew announced the latest investment Tuesday, just days after Cereals Canada and James Richardson & Sons, Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding securing a prime downtown Winnipeg site for the future facility.
With the latest funding, Manitoba’s total provincial contribution to the estimated $102-million Gate project now stands at $20 million. The province initially announced $13 million in funding back in April. Farm organizations from Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec have collectively raised $13.5 million, while Cereals Canada has added $5 million of its own.
The project is positioned as both an economic development initiative and a strategic response to ongoing global trade uncertainty.
“Trump proofing our economy means finding new markets for our agricultural products,” Kinew said in a release. “By expanding Manitoba’s reach into diverse global markets, we’re protecting our producers from trade uncertainty, strengthening our province’s food security and ensuring the hardworking farmers who feed our families can continue to thrive and keep food affordable for Manitobans.”
The Gate facility is designed to play a central role in promoting Canadian grains internationally. Plans include a state-of-the-art milling operation, six advanced laboratories, enhanced testing capacity, and specialized technical expertise. Together, these features are intended to showcase the quality and consistency of Canadian grains to global buyers, while supporting farmers, researchers, and international customers with cutting-edge analytical and processing capabilities.
Dean Dias, chief executive officer of Cereals Canada, said securing the downtown site marked a major milestone for the project. He credited James Richardson & Sons for its contribution of land and said the partnership is laying the groundwork for an investment that will strengthen Canada’s grain competitiveness for decades.
With strong provincial and industry backing in place, Manitoba is now calling on the federal government to join the partnership and help advance the project to its next stage.
Source : Syngenta.ca