Cereals Canada is moving ahead with its plans to building the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (GATE) in Winnipeg.
“The board of directors strongly supports Cereals Canada, including the vision for GATE,” chair Brett Halstead said in a June 27 news release.
The cost of the new building projected at $100 million.
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According to promotional materials for the project, GATE would “contain state-of-the art analytical milling, baking, noodle- and pasta-making, malting and brewing, oat processing and educational training facilities to support and train global customers about the quality, functionality, safety and sustainability of Canadian grains.”
It would house Cereals Canada and other grain industry bodies.
Before Cereals Canada can start construction though, it needs to line up the money.
The organization is launching a capital campaign that will “target contributions from industry groups, agribusinesses and individuals, as well as support from the three levels of government,” the June 27 release read.
The launch of that campaign was temporarily postponed due to scheduling conflicts
There has been internal strife within Cereals Canada in recent months, particularly after the GATE project was revealed to members several weeks ago. Feelings of financial pressure and conflict over treatment of members by the organization led several grain, seed and agrichemical companies to consider parting ways with Cereals Canada.
The organization argues that it badly needs a new home for processing and milling equipment, which was never a good fit for a downtown office building, where it is currently located. Cereals Canada also says it has to be out of its present building by 2027.
GATE is also slated for downtown Winnipeg, however, leading some members to question the chosen location. The mass balance of agriculture research and commercial operations already occur in the University of Manitoba’s research park, critics argue.
Others have questioned why existing empty structures in the city were not tapped.
The issue echoes housing shortcomings seen under the organization’s predecessor, the Canadian International Grains Institute.
Correction: A previous version of this story stated that the launch of the capital campaign launch was delayed due to membership questions in Cereals Canada. The Alberta Farmer Express regrets the error.
