Photo credit: Cereals Canada website
Four producer organizations have announced plans to contribute $13.4 million to the planned Global Technology Exchange in Winnipeg. The project known as GATE will contain state-of the-art equipment for milling, baking, pasta and noodle making, malting and brewing, as well as oat processing. The estimated $102 million cost includes buying the land near the current Cereals Canada location in downtown Winnipeg and building a facility that meets engineering requirements to house advanced milling equipment.
Funding has been approved by the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission ($6,243,074), Alberta Grains ($4,319,798), Manitoba Crop Alliance ($2,655,587) and Grain Farmers of Ontario (approximately $200,000).
Cereals Canada has also committed $5 million from its own reserve funds, which puts the GATE Capital Campaign fundraising total at $18.4 million.
The Wheat Growers Association opposes using producer check-off dollars to build a new facility. The Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (SaskWheat) says GATE is needed “so that we can continue to meet global demand for high quality Canadian grains.” A SaskWheat news release says the funding is conditional upon securing the required financial support from government entities and other funding partners. CJWW Agriculture Director Neil Billinger spoke to Davidson area farmer Rob Stone, who is a Sask Wheat Development Commission Director.
