A planned new agricultural innovation hub in downtown Winnipeg has moved another step closer to reality after Cereals Canada and James Richardson & Sons, Ltd (JRSL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see a key parcel of land donated for its development.
Under the agreement, Richardson Centre, a JRSL subsidiary, will provide land at the corner of Lombard Avenue and Westbrook Street for the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) facility. The location is just steps from Portage & Main, long considered the premier site for the project, Cereals Canada - which is leading the Gate initiative - said in a release Wednesday.
The land transfer is contingent on the success of an ongoing capital campaign for the Gate facility, but officials say the commitment represents a major leap forward for the planned centre.
“Securing what we previously identified as the most desirable site for Gate is a significant step forward,” said Dean Dias, CEO of Cereals Canada, who said the new hub will help bolster Canada’s grain competitiveness “well into the future.”
The MOU signing, he added, underscores the project’s alignment with industry priorities and its potential to become a world-class centre for collaboration, innovation and market development.
JRSL President Thor Richardson said his family’s historic ties to the grain sector make the partnership a natural fit.
“Our family has been in the grain industry since 1857,” he said, noting that Winnipeg is already home to leading agricultural companies and institutions.
Supporting Gate, he added, advances not only the industry but also downtown revitalization. He said the project will help keep Canadian agriculture resilient in an increasingly challenging global trade environment.
“The global trade environment upon which our grain industry depends is more challenging than ever, and we believe that by supporting Gate, we are helping ensure that Canadian agriculture and farming communities continue to thrive for generations to come,” Richardson said.
The $102-million Gate facility will function as a hub for international training, research and commercial partnerships. To date, its capital campaign has raised $32.15 million, led by former Manitoba Senator JoAnne Buth.
