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Hensall co-op pledges funds to Ridgetown’s proposed sustainable crop research and innovation centre

Hensall District Co-operative, Inc., a leading farmer-owned co-operative in the Canadian agricultural sector, recently announced that it has pledged $100,000.00 towards the proposed new Ontario Sustainable Crop Research and Innovation Centre at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus.

Ridgetown’s plans are for a two-phase project. This pledge is in support of the second phase of the project to construct several specialized research labs for Ridgetown’s 20 plus agricultural scientists replacing the current facilities that have reached their life expectancy.

“We are committed to protecting our rural communities and we direct most of our sponsorship investment to support rural communities and education in agriculture,” says Brad Chandler, president and CEO, Hensall Co-op. “The applied and practical research results from the Ridgetown Campus remain vitally important to our growers. We need to ensure that these researchers have the facilities and equipment they need to educate our youth, continue to address industry issues and provide scientific results through knowledge transfer to our producers. This gift clearly supports our corporate values of innovation, empowerment, and working together. The Hensall Co-op Board of Directors, representing over 6,000 farmer-owners, believe that this is an important investment in the future of the Ridgetown Campus and agriculture in Canada.”

“Phase 1 of this two-phase Ridgetown Campus project is in the final stages of architectural design. This phase involves the construction of a $6.0 million Field Crop Services Building that will provide a state-of-the-art workspace for 15 to 20 crop research technicians, vegetable and field crop processing space and seed storage. This phase of the project is an investment from the Province of Ontario through the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO). Following construction of Phase 1, we look forward to seeing Phase 2 commence once provincial and/or federal funding is in place,” says Ken McEwan, director, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. “Today’s commitment of financial support from Hensall Co-op is greatly appreciated. Our Ridgetown Campus Agri-Food Foundation has now raised over $3.8 million in municipal, agribusiness and private support for this capital priority.”