A proposal to bring some of Winnipeg’s scattered agriculture industry organizations and institutions under one roof has provoked chatter and at least one denunciation.
The idea, broached by Cereals Canada but not made public, has been around for years. It apparently grew from a desire to bring together a critical mass of crop industry players and replace facilities that some consider to be outdated and inadequate.
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Previous attempts to galvanize such a project have failed due to lack of funding and disagreements between organizations and interests. In those iterations, some wanted to build a new state-of-the-art facility while others argued for existing but better digs.
Some wanted a facility near Portage and Main, where agencies and organizations like the Canadian Grain Commission, Cereals Canada, Agriculture Canada, Pulse Canada and the Canola Council of Canada already operate. Portage and Main is also the home of most of Canada’s major grain companies, including Richardson International, Parrish and Heimbecker and Paterson Grain.
Others called for any centre to be placed at the University of Manitoba campus on the south end of the city, where there is already a large academic, research and commercial agriculture hub.
As well, there were concerns about spending money on a building instead of on agricultural research, programming or management.
The idea for a consolidated location has been floated again within Winnipeg’s ag community and many of the previous issues are still alive.
Plans appear to be at an early stage and people at a number of farm and agriculture organizations said they were aware of them but had not been directly involved.
“While we are aware of this initiative, we are not involved in the current project, nor have we made any commitment to be an occupant,” said the Canola Council of Canada in reply to a Western Producer query.
The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association went public with its concerns June 17 in a strongly worded column, found on page 10 of this issue.
Cereals Canada, which absorbed the former Canadian International Grains Institute, has struggled to offer the programming and promotion it believes is needed today due to its location inside an office tower that was never designed to house bakeries, grain grading, brewing and other technical processes.
The Canadian Grain Commission, housed in the same building, also has trouble with some of the operations it needs to fulfil its mandate and has moved some of those off-site.
A few years ago, a water system break connected to Cereals Canada facilities caused damage and disruption when water poured through several floors.
Cereals Canada’s current building lease is expiring on March 31, 2027, with no option to renew. With this date fast approaching, a new home is needed to continue to build on the vital work done to advance the Canadian grains value chain.
Creating a new state-of the-art facility will allow Cereals Canada to continue to offer best in-class technical expertise to support Canadian farmers, as well as domestic and global customers.
More on details on the future home of Cereals Canada will be announced in the days ahead.
