New agriculture technology centre aimed at attracting global business, revitalizing downtown

The provincial government has put up $13 million to help Cereals Canada build an agriculture hub in Winnipeg.

The province is investing in a multimillion-dollar facility in downtown Winnipeg to help Manitoba’s agriculture industry grow its business around the world.

Premier Wab Kinew announced $13 million in funding to help Cereals Canada develop the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange, aka Gate.

Touted as a world-class centre, the facility is aimed at showcasing Manitoba’s grains in a push to drive up global demand.

At a news conference Thursday, the premier said Manitoba’s agriculture industry is fighting a trade war on two fronts—with tariffs from both the United States and China.

“This is really about showcasing our ag industry at a time when Canada absolutely needs to diversify our trading partners,” he said.

The centre will also have research and innovation space for specialty milling, a pilot bakery, pasta extrusion, plus training and office space. Once open, the facility will create 80 new jobs.

Cereals Canada CEO Dean Dias said the project is nearly 20 years in the making, as the organization has outgrown its current space at Portage and Main.

Still, Gate will be home to more than just Cereals Canada.

“This is a vision and a bold vision to bring ag groups together which have the same goals and mentality to expand our markets around the world,” Dias said.

The whole project comes with a $102 million price tag. Dias said they are still at the fundraising stage and have launched a capital campaign to cover the costs.

Farmers from across the country fundraised $13.5 million and Cereals Canada has put in $5 million from its reserve fund.

Premier Kinew said the province’s initial investment is more like a down payment and will hopefully spur more money from the federal government and private sector.

“We’re talking about basically a $100 million project. If all goes well, we’re going to be there for a third of this.”

The land also hasn’t been acquired yet. Dias said they have identified a lot in the Exchange District, but an agreement is still in the works.

The project is also part of the province’s push to revitalize downtown.

Kinew hopes the ‘ag campus’ will attract potential clients from around the world to downtown Winnipeg, who could not only export Manitoba products but also stay in hotels, eat at restaurants, and go to a concert or a Winnipeg Jets game.

“When we talk about diversification to boost economic development at the same time that we’re talking about an investment in downtown and investment in our ag industry – it sounds like a win-win to me.”