One of Canada’s largest grain handling companies, Richardson International, is planning a multi-million dollar research facility in Winnipeg.
Richardson executive Curt Vossen said construction of the new facility will begin in late 2015 or early 2016.
The centre will consolidate research and development work that is taking place at various Richardson locations across Western Canada and the United States.
Work at the centre is expected to focus on value-added food processing, product development and use of common agricultural crops such as canola and oats.
Speaking April 14 on the sidelines of a Canadian Global Crops Symposium in Saskatoon, Vossen said the new facility will likely be not far from the company’s headquarters in downtown Winnipeg.
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The cost has not been made public but Vossen said the company’s investment will be in “the millions of dollars.”
“We are now becoming much more a food company as well as an agricultural company,” he said.
The centre will “support product development for our food processing businesses in oats and in canola,” he added.
Over the past 20 years or so, Richardson has invested more than $2.5 billion in Canada’s agriculture sector. That amount includes acquisitions, expansions and new construction projects.
Contact brian.cross@producer.com
