Government of Canada invests in Global Opportunities for Canadian crops

May 14, 2010

Winnipeg, Manitoba - The Government of Canada is investing to support international expansion and market growth for Canadian farmers, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced today. The investment of more than $11 million for the Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) will support their efforts to grow crop markets around the world.

"Today's investment to the crops industry will support research and development of new, healthy foods for families across Canada and around the world," said Minister Ritz. "When premium Italian pasta plants are making spaghetti, they use Canadian durum – this research will open new opportunities to reach millions of new customers for Canadian farmers by commercializing ideas as simple as putting that same durum into Chinese noodles."

"Our farmers continue to drive the economy in Manitoba, and across the country, and they are the key to our economic recovery," said Minister of Public Safety and Regional Minister for Manitoba, Vic Toews, who made the announcement with Minister Ritz. "We're proud to work with CIGI to support research, development and promotion of Canada's high-quality crops."

More than $11 million from the AgriMarketing program will help producers and processors increase exports of their safe, high-quality products around the world. This investment will support activities to boost international market development, brand building and industry-to-industry trade advocacy.

Some specific activities include:

• initiate innovative research activities and offer training and services to the industry to help them better understand domestic and international markets;
• assess the nutritional value of Canadian feed ingredients for new and emerging markets; and
• develop publications that highlight the benefits of Canadian feed ingredients, and feed programs for international customers.

An additional investment of over $500,000 from Western Economic Diversification Canada will help CIGI keep the competitive edge with leading-edge tools and technology. This new equipment will help farmers and processors develop new products using the latest grain and food processing testing techniques. The new products will allow them to go out and capture new market opportunities both domestically and around the world.

"This funding supports CIGI's vision to be the recognized leader specializing in offering continuous advances in Canadian field crop products to the world and builds on the partnership between CIGI, the Government of Canada and the industry," said Earl Geddes, Executive Director of CIGI. "It will ensure CIGI stays in step with current technologies and trends in the marketplace, enable us to lead the development of new products using Canada's field crops, and demonstrate the commercial aspects of these new products to the domestic and international industry. This commitment by the Government of Canada allows CIGI to support marketing efforts of its field crop partners."