Centre helps innovators

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.