Governments Boost Support For Agri-Tech Commercialization Centre

December 04, 2009

Guelph Centre Helps Innovators Bring Products to Market


The Governments of Canada and Ontario are helping make Ontario’s agriculture industry more innovative, competitive and profitable by investing in the commercialization if new agriculture products. Guelph’s Agri-Technology Commercialization Centre will receive a joint-governmental investment of more than $11 million through the Growing Forward initiative.

The facility houses a cluster of organizations who work to ensure that producers, researchers and entrepreneurs in agriculture find capital and take their products to market.

QUOTES
“Ontario agriculture is full of potential and new markets for our farmers,” said Member of Parliament Joe Preston, on behalf of Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “This investment will benefit farmers, communities and businesses by fostering innovation, attracting commercial investment and getting more new products to market.”

 “Innovation remains a strong driver for more jobs, a more competitive agriculture industry and a stronger provincial economy.”
(MPP Liz Sandals, on behalf of Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

QUICK FACTS

• Under Growing Forward, the Agri-Technology Commercialization Centre will receive $11.27 million over five years to accelerate the commercialization process for new products and attract investment.
• The ATCC will also deliver annual innovation symposiums intended to increase private sector investment in innovation by bringing entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial businesses together with potential investors.
• 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.

LEARN MORE
About the BioEnterprise Corporation, Soy 20/20, and Ontario Agri-Food Technologies
About Growing Forward in Ontario