Winnipeg | Downtown | Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) | In Development

[Wpg_Guy]

Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate)
Location: Westbrook St
Developers: Cereals Canada
Architects:
Status: In Development
Documents: -
Media: Cereals Canada looking ahead to GATE facility
Description: Cereals Canada is planning a $102-million new, modernized research facility in Winnipeg’s Exchange District neighbourhood. Cereals Canada currently operates in a 30,000-square-foot space. The new proposed facility will be slightly larger and state-of-the-art, specialized laboratories for baking, milling, noodle and pasta making are in the plans.



World-Class Grain Deserves a World-Class Building

Time is now’ for new Cereals Canada HQ
Province tabs $13M ‘down payment’ for long-discussed Gate project in downtown Winnipeg
By: Gabrielle Piché Posted: 7:31 PM CDT Thursday, Apr. 10, 2025

Scientists have baked bread, created noodles and processed flour in a tower above the iconic Portage and Main intersection for years.

However, Cereals Canada has been calling for a new, modernized research facility for nearly two decades. As of Thursday, the long-sought project is one step closer: the Manitoba government injected $13 million as a “down payment.”

“If all goes well, we’re going to be there for one-third of this,” Premier Wab Kinew promised.

He stood inside Cereals Canada’s 11th-floor pilot bakery. Delegates from Japan, Britain and Italy, among other countries, have walked through the site, observing how Canadian cereal grain crops could work in their products.

Cereals Canada researches and markets such crops globally.

“The customers that are using (Canadian crops) right now know how to use it,” said Dean Dias, Cereals Canada CEO. “But if you’re trying to diversify markets or grow markets, you need to go with expertise and you need to go with data.”

Diversifying markets is top of mind, Dias noted. Canada exports wheat to more than 80 countries. It’s the world’s second-largest wheat exporter and is expected to ship 26.2 million tonnes of the crop globally this year.

Canadian cereal exports were valued at $11.9 billion in 2024.

Still, there’s a need to further diversify given global events, including an uncertain relationship with the United States, both Dias and Kinew noted.

“We’re going up against Australia and America, and they have these really strong offers,” Kinew said. “As Canada, we have to put our best foot forward.”

Cereals Canada is planning a $102-million facility in Winnipeg’s Exchange District neighbourhood. The $13 million of provincial money announced Thursday will match $13.5 million pledged by industry, including crop organizations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

Kinew said the province is willing to contribute to one-third of the total cost — coming to $34 million — if Ottawa provides another third after this month’s federal election.

“I’ve made the case really strongly to all of the party leaders that ag is the backbone of our economy,” Kinew told reporters.

Investing in the new facility — titled the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) — will also show producers and exporters Manitoba has a “long-term bet” on them, Kinew continued.

Leadership hasn’t yet signed a deal on land for Gate. A site has been identified, Dias said, declining to give details.

Cereals Canada currently operates in a 30,000-square-foot space. The proposed facility will be slightly larger and state-of-the-art, Dias said.

Baking, milling, noodle and pasta making zones are in the plans, as are oat and specialty grain processing operations. Customers have been demanding more research on oats and couscous, Dias added.

The HQ project has been on-again, off-again for years, he noted.

“The time is never right,” he said. “I believe that the time is now.

“Market diversification, it doesn’t happen by shaking a hand and saying, ‘Buy my product.’ You need to have the technical expertise, you need to have the science behind the data, and you need to prove to them … why our quality is good.”

The United States is Canada’s largest market for oats, second largest for barley, fourth largest for durum wheat and sixth largest for non-durum wheat.

Manitoba shipped $185 million worth of oat products to the U.S. last year.

The Manitoba Crop Alliance has tabbed $2.65 million for Gate. It applauded the province for making a financial commitment.

“We are ensuring Cereals Canada can continue its valuable work in these crucial areas, on behalf of the farmers and the entire cereals value chain,” said Jonothan Hodson, chair of the Manitoba Crop Alliance.

The organization represents approximately 7,700 members. It’s hoping a federal investment for Gate comes next. The stance is a change from June; at the time, Manitoba Crop Alliance was unsure it’d support the new development.

Cereals Canada has contributed $5 million towards the Exchange District space. The new hub will draw various agriculture groups to Winnipeg, Dias stated.

Cereals Canada employs 32 people. The facility will cover about 80 full-time jobs when considering other organizations to use the site, Dias said.

He’s hoping to see the building erected and operational in 2029. Fundraising is ongoing.

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/2025/04/10/time-is-now-for-new-cereals-canada-hq





• Video Link

[Wpg_Guy]

Province of Manitoba Invests in Gate

WINNIPEG, MB, April 10, 2025 /CNW/ - Cereals Canada today announced that it has received $13 million in funding support for the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate). This investment from the Province of Manitoba brings the total raised for Gate to $31.5 million.

Led by Cereals Canada, Gate will be a state-of-the-art, world-class facility that will propel the Canadian cereals sector into the next era of global agricultural innovation.

"This is a substantial investment from the Government of Manitoba for the future of Canadian cereals," said Dean Dias, CEO of Cereals Canada. "Gate is an essential investment in diversifying our markets and mitigating trade risk, providing global buyers with trusted technical knowledge and expertise, and maintaining Canada's leadership as a trusted and consistent supplier of high-quality cereal grains."

With Canadian cereal exports valued at $13.8 billion in 2024, the Gate facility is poised to play a crucial role in maintaining and expanding Canada's global market share. This year, Canada is expected to export 26.2 million tonnes of wheat, making it the world's second largest exporter of wheat and the top exporter of high quality, high protein wheat.

"We're looking for more places to do business—we're looking for more opportunities—because agriculture is the backbone of our western Canadian economy and our Manitoba economy," said Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew at the announcement. "The Gate project is an amazing opportunity for us to do a ton of heavy lifting to bring our goods to market."

"This is a good long-term investment in ensuring the backbone of our western Canadian economy is going to stay strong," said Kinew.

Responsible for $68.8 billion in annual economic activity and 370,000 full time jobs in Canada, the Canadian cereals sector is a driver of the economy. Canadian cereals lead the country with annual exports to over 80 countries.

The funding announcement was made from the pilot bakery at Cereals Canada, one of six technical facilities located at the organization's downtown Winnipeg headquarters.

"For over 50 years, these specialized laboratories have played an important role in providing world-class technical support, advocacy, and expertise to ensure customer success," said Dias. "Gate will enable us to amplify our resources, maintain and grow markets, and foster industry relationships and advocacy, helping to ensure the long-term competitiveness and resilience of Canada's cereals industry."

Demonstrating strong support and commitment from farmers across the country, Alberta Grains, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat), Manitoba Crop Alliance, Grain Farmers of Ontario, and Quebec Grain Producers/Producteurs de grains du Québec have together pledged $13.5 million, along with $5 million from Cereals Canada, in support of Gate.

The Gate Capital Campaign Cabinet along with Cereals Canada staff will continue to raise funds to make the vision of Gate a reality.

For more information about Gate and the Gate Capital Campaign, please visit gate-canada.ca

About Cereals Canada: Cereals Canada is the national, not-for-profit, industry association representing the Canadian cereal grains value chain. We value relationships and work with government and stakeholders to provide timely, expert technical information and deliver best-in-class customer experience. We are dedicated to supporting the Canadian cereals value chain including farmers, exporters, developers, processors, and our customers around the world with a focus on trade, science, and sustainability.

Quick Facts

• Canada's cereal sector is responsible for $68.8 billion in annual economic activity and 370,000 full time jobs in Canada and leads the country's agriculture exports with annual exports to over 80 countries.
  
• Wheat is a staple food for 35 percent of the world's population and is Canada's largest field crop grown.
  
• Canada is the second largest wheat exporter in the world and one of the world's top exporters of high-quality durum.
  
• Over the last five years, Canada exported on average 4.6 million tonnes of Canadian durum to over 50 countries including Morocco, Algeria, Italy, the United States (US), Peru, and Japan.
  
• Canada is its own largest wheat market with over 3.2 million tonnes of wheat milled into flour and semolina per year on average, plus the demand for animal feed and other uses.
  
• In Manitoba, farming accounts for 53 percent of the economic impact and 56 percent of the employment impact of the cereal grains value chain.
  
• On average, Manitoba's cereal grain farming sector generates $3.28 billion dollars of economic impact and 15,100 jobs.
  
• In Manitoba, cereal grain processing contributes $1.88 billion dollars of economic impact and creates 8,200 jobs.
  
• Manitoba is the second largest oat producing province in Canada and on average, Manitoba's oat sector generates an economic impact of $727 million dollars.

SOURCE Cereals Canada

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/province-of-manitoba-invests-in-gate-847147681.html

[Wpg_Guy]

Cereals Canada looking ahead to GATE facility
Construction on Cereals Canada’s Global Agriculture Technology Exchange is expected to begin in 2025, with completion in 2027


The new hub for Cereals Canada in downtown Winnipeg is expected to break ground this year.

That will let the incoming Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (GATE) facility officially open its doors in 2027.


WHY IT MATTERS: Cereals Canada hopes its coming Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (GATE) facility will help expand Canada’s global market for wheat and other grains through research and market development.

The project is estimated to cost approximately $100 million. Facility plans call for specialized technical spaces, including a grain mill which can replicate milling processes from around the world and help tease out how Canadian products could fit into the cultural needs of international markets.

GATE capital campaign chair JoAnne Buth said the facility will allow Canada’s grains industry to grow and thrive both domestically and internationally.

“The recent volatility in trade relations underscores the urgent need for market diversification,” she said in a press release.

Canada is expected to export 26.2 million tonnes of wheat to over 80 countries in the 2024-25 crop year, making it the world’s third-largest exporter of wheat and the top exporter in high-quality, high-protein wheat.

“Each of those markets around the world will come to Canada, and they are interested in our wheat,” said GATE campaign cabinet member David Hansen. “Ultimately it’s about price, but it is also about quality and quantity and availability and all those other pieces of it… And it’s up to Cereals Canada to help facilitate that customer with our wheat and ensure that they’re achieving the outcomes that they need.”

Why a brand new facility?
Prairie producer groups have confirmed their funding for the project in recent months.

It has not been universally popular. The financial impact and proposed location of the new GATE facility drew questions from some Cereals Canada members and farmers before the capital campaign kicked off last year.

Hansen, however, said a new facility was justified in order to give Cereals Canada the ability to advance their technological abilities to conduct applied research and testing. An office building, like the one where they are currently located in downtown Winnipeg, doesn’t fit those needs or allow for the growth of the Canadian grains industry, he said.

“This is very specialized. If you think about it, the air and the moisture and humidities and constants in temperatures and the ability to move a big piece of equipment in and out of the building are important. The building really has to be built around the equipment,” he said.

“It’s a very legitimate question in terms of do we need to go and build something new when there’s office space ‘here’ or empty buildings over ‘there.’ But that is not a solution for what GATE is all about or what it needs. If we’re going to continue being the player that we are in this game on a global basis, we need the tools; we need the technologies; we need the professionals that are going to be employed in this facility.”

GATE has received funding commitments of approximately $13.5 million from Canadian grower associations. Cereals Canada is also committing $5 million from its reserves.

https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/crops/...7I4iyJvTqg_Ma_aem_Ld02fnnliKlQCAJ5cX8btA

[ColdRain&Snow]

Great news for our downtown!

[The Jabroni]

This is planned to be built right across from Richardson Innovation Centre, yeah?

This is great news!

[pspeid]

Now we just need a Federal government that will be willing to invest in this, and keep it in Winnipeg. Note this portion of the article: "It has not been universally popular. The financial impact and proposed location of the new GATE facility drew questions from some Cereals Canada members and farmers before the capital campaign kicked off last year."

I'm concerned a Conservative government would switch the location to Alberta or Saskatchewan, if not cancel the project altogether.

[bomberjet]

^You won't have to worry about that.

[cllew]

Originally Posted by The Jabroni

This is planned to be built right across from Richardson Innovation Centre, yeah?

This is great news!

From what I read in the Free Press this morning GATE has not purchased the land yet. Until that happens things something could happen and it moves somewhere else.

[optimusREIM]

Wondering if there’s a chance that they could team up with Richardson to jointly develop the block into something even bigger?

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by cllew

From what I read in the Free Press this morning GATE has not purchased the land yet. Until that happens things something could happen and it moves somewhere else.

It’s pretty much a done deal, they need this amount of space for all the new facilities and most importantly the storage which they currently have offsite at another location.

[Wpg_Guy]

Warburtons puts $650K into new Cereals Canada HQ

The United Kingdom’s largest bakery brand has contributed $650,000 to a Cereals Canada facility that will be built in Winnipeg’s Exchange District.

Warburtons announced on Thursday its contribution to the capital campaign for the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange. Referred to as “Gate” for short, the facility will help grain producers and processors bolster their international profiles and find new trading partners in response to U.S. tariffs and protectionism.

The U.K. brand sources “significant volumes” of Canadian wheat from Western Canada and has been working with Canadian farmers and Cereals Canada for many years, campaign chair JoAnne Buth said in a news release.



Warburtons employees utilize Cereals Canada’s pilot bakery, mill and lab to test and analyze Canadian wheat before it goes to the U.K. for production.

To date, the Gate capital campaign has raised $32 million toward its goal of approximately $100 million.

The campaign is targeting contributions from industry groups, agribusinesses and individuals, and support from the three levels of government.

— Free Press staff

[Wpg_Guy]

UK’s largest bakery brand supports Global Agriculture Technology Exchange
Jun 5, 2025



Warburtons is putting bread into the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) Capital Campaign.

Campaign Chair JoAnne Buth said the contribution represents a close, long-standing relationship between Cereals Canada and Warburtons.

“Cereals Canada and Warburtons share a deep commitment to quality and innovation,” Buth said. “Warburtons sources significant volumes of Canadian wheat from Western Canada and has been working with Canadian farmers and the Cereals Canada team for many years.”

The Cereals Canada facility has long been a “home away from home” for the Warburtons team who utilize the pilot bakery, mill, and analytical lab to test and analyze Canadian wheat before it goes to the UK for production.

In 2016, Warburtons partnered with Cereals Canada for a multi-year pulse research project to produce healthier baked goods.

Warburtons Canadian Program Manager Adam Dyck said they have partnered with Canadian farmers and the agriculture industry for over 30 years to source the highest quality wheat through the Identity Preserved Program.

“For the past 15 years, Cereals Canada has played a vital role in supporting our commitment to quality and innovation,” Dyck said. “Our contribution to the Gate project reflects the value we place on Canadian agriculture and our strong belief in innovation, collaboration, and long-term relationships.”

Located in downtown Winnipeg, Gate will provide the tools to allow Cereals Canada to maintain the globally recognized, best-in-class expertise needed to support global markets, providing customers like Warburtons with value-added technical knowledge and expertise, and maintaining Canada’s leadership as a trusted and innovative supplier of high-quality wheat.

To date, the Gate Capital Campaign has raised $32,150,000 towards its goal of approximately $100 million. The campaign is targeting contributions from industry groups, agribusinesses and individuals, and support from the three levels of government.

paNOW

• Video Link

[Wpg_Guy]

Gate Capital Campaign Completes its Cabinet
Winnipeg, Manitoba June 19, 2025 – The Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) Capital Campaign today completed its cabinet with the addition of member Gene Fraser. The sixth and final member to be named to the Cabinet, Fraser is the past vice-president of MacDon, a world leader in technology, innovation, and manufacturing of high-performance harvesting equipment.

“I am motivated to be a part of Cereals Canada’s exciting project, Gate,” said Fraser. “Agriculture has shaped my journey—from the family farm in Antigonish to the global stage with MacDon. I believe for Canada to continue to be the global leader in cereal grains innovation and sustainability, it will take a powerful combination of vision, leadership, and action. I see Gate offering all three of these components.”

“The future of Canada’s grain progress through Gate will be driven by collaboration and investment and I am proud to be a part of this important effort,” he added.

Led by JoAnne Buth, former Manitoba Senator and agriculture advocate, the Gate Capital Campaign Cabinet is made up of industry and community leaders with deep ties to agriculture.

“With our cabinet now complete, we are moving forward with an exceptional team of leaders who represent the full spectrum of Canada’s cereals value chain,” said Buth.

The Gate Capital Campaign Cabinet

• Wade Barnes – Farmer/entrepreneur and CEO of Ronin Agronomy
• Bryce Eger – Industry and community leader from Calgary, Alberta
• Ralph Eichler – Former Manitoba Minister of Agriculture
• Gene Fraser – Past vice-president of MacDon
• David Hansen – Past president and CEO of Canterra Seeds
• Dayna Spiring – Community leader, corporate director, and Winnipeg ambassador

Honorary Cabinet Members: Canadian farmers Gregg Fotheringham, Manitoba; Rob Stone, Saskatchewan; Greg Sears, Alberta; and Josh Boersen, Ontario.

The Cabinet is tasked with raising funds for the construction of Gate, a state-of-the-art hub for grains research, development, and innovation in downtown Winnipeg. With an estimated cost of $100 million, the facility will maintain Canada’s leadership in domestic and international markets.

Since the launch of the capital campaign in June 2024, $32.15 million in funding commitments has been secured. Most recently, the Province of Manitoba contributed $13 million, as part of their nation building objectives with the federal government, and Warburtons, the U.K.’s largest bakery brand, announced that it will be investing $650,000.

Gate has also received $13.5 million in combined support from key grower organizations, including the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, Alberta Grains, Manitoba Crop Alliance, Grain Farmers of Ontario, and Producteurs de grains du Québec. Cereals Canada has also contributed $5 million towards the project.

Dean Dias, chief executive officer of Cereals Canada, welcomed the completion of the cabinet and expressed his confidence as the members work towards their goal.

“We have assembled a strong, diverse team to carry out our Gate campaign,” said Dias. “Their combined expertise will be invaluable as we work towards realizing our vision of a world-class facility to maintain Canada’s global cereals leadership.”

The campaign is targeting contributions from industry groups, agribusinesses and individuals, and support from the three levels of government. To learn more, please visit the Capital Campaign page.

Global Agriculture Technology Exchange

[Wpg_Guy]

Cereals Canada Shares Gate Progress Update
Just 16 months since launching the Gate Capital Campaign, Cereals Canada has shared an update on its progress toward raising funds to build a $102 million pan-Canadian innovation initiative headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Ranked number two on Manitoba’s proposed Major Projects List, Gate is a clear regional and national priority. Gate will secure the future of a sector that delivers tens of billions in economic output, sustains hundreds of thousands of Canadian jobs, and underpins our trade balance, food security, and rural vitality.

So far, over $31 million has been committed to the Gate project. In September 2024, Canadian farm groups from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Québec made over $13 million in funding commitments, along with $5 million from Cereals Canada. In April of 2025, $13 million was secured from the Province of Manitoba, which has signaled its willingness to match the federal government’s contribution when it is made. In June 2025, Warburton’s, the UK’s largest bakery brand, contributed $650,000.

Led and owned by Cereals Canada, this project is built on a true partnership model: one-third funded by the federal government, one-third by the Province of Manitoba, and one-third by Cereals Canada and agriculture stakeholders. Federal investment through inclusion on the Major Projects list will help diversify trade through coordinated market access, remove trade barriers, and strengthen Canada’s economy.

Read the update: Gate Progress Update

[James Bond Agent 007]

Of all the cities and countries in the world that could come up with an alternative to General Mills or Post, Winnipeg and Canada are those.

[Unbending]

Is the $102 million Cereals Canada’s one-third that they need to raise (so $306 million project total)? Or does Cereals Canada need to raise one-third of the $102 million ($34 million)? If it’s the latter, they almost hit their goal, with $31 million raised so far.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by Unbending

Is the $102 million Cereals Canada’s one-third that they need to raise (so $306 million project total)? Or does Cereals Canada need to raise one-third of the $102 million ($34 million)? If it’s the latter, they almost hit their goal, with $31 million raised so far.

The total cost of the project is $102M.

[Unbending]

The website FAQs says “Ideally, construction will begin in 2025.”

My optimistic side expects we will see construction starting very soon now that Cereals Canada is almost finished raising their one-third and the governments are covering the other two-thirds. However, my pessimistic side thinks the November update would’ve mentioned the imminent construction if Cereals Canada was putting shovels in the ground before the end of 2025.

[bomberjet]

It's confusing. The thing says they raised $31 million. Of which $13 million came from the province. But the province is to cover 1/3 of the cost.

So does that mean they've only raised $18 million? Or is the province kicking in an additional $13 million over top of their 1/3 contribution?

Construction isnt happening anytime soon IMO.

[Wpg_Guy]

Originally Posted by bomberjet

It's confusing. The thing says they raised $31 million. Of which $13 million came from the province. But the province is to cover 1/3 of the cost.

So does that mean they've only raised $18 million? Or is the province kicking in an additional $13 million over top of their 1/3 contribution?

Construction isnt happening anytime soon IMO.

When the province announced its $13-million commitment, the premier promised additional provincial funding to match any federal contribution.

The premier also recently mentioned, he’s hopeful federal funding will be covered under the infrastructure priorities in the new budget, as this project is shovel ready.