The governments of Canada and Ontario are helping make Ontario’s agriculture industry more innovative, competitive and profitable by spending money in the commercialization of new agriculture products.
Guelph’s Agri-Technology Commercialization Centre will receive joint-governmental cash of more than $11-million through the Growing Forward initiative.
The facility houses a cluster of organizations that work to assist producers, researchers, and entrepreneurs in agriculture find capital and take their products to market.
MP Joe Preston, on behalf of Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, said, “Ontario agriculture is full of potential and new markets for our farmers. This [spending] will benefit farmers, communities and businesses by fostering innovation, attracting commercial investment and getting more new products to market.”
Guelph MPP Liz Sandals, on behalf of Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky, said, “Innovation remains a strong driver for more jobs, a more competitive agriculture industry, and a stronger provincial economy.”
Under Growing Forward, the centre will receive $11.27-million over five years to accelerate the commercialization process for new products and attract investment.
The centre houses the BioEnterprise Corporation, Soy 20/20, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies, staff from the Guelph Food Technology Centre, and the legal firm, Miller Thomson LLP.
Growing Forward is a federal-provincial-territorial initiative to support the development of a profitable, innovative agri-food sector that is adept at managing risk and more responsive to market demands.
