Agriculture and food has a role to play in rural development in Manitoba.
That’s the conclusion of researcher Gillian Richards, of Brandon University’s Rural Development Institute, presenting at the Southwest Regional Development Corporation last week in Brandon.
Richards’ study, “Rural Innovation in Manitoba: Reducing Barriers to commercialization and Growing Capacity in the Agri-Food Sector,” included five case studies of unique products, a survey of 400 residents in southwest Manitoba and an inventory of local business supports.
“This inventory is an important thing,” she said. “I think a lot of times people don’t realize what help they need and even if they do realize what help they need, they don’t know where to find it and that’s where we hope to fill a gap.”
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Amber birch syrup, produced by The Canadian Birch Company, sea buckthorn berry purée, produced by Solberry Incorporated, quick wild rice, produced by Floating Leaf Fine Foods, low-acid purées by Canadian Prairie Garden and cricket-based protein powder, produced by Crik Nutrition, were included in the study.
Research explored the process by which each was brought to market.
One of those companies, Canadian Prairie Garden, was forced into receivership in March.
The 400-response survey focused on the region’s business atmosphere and any perceived flaws that might prevent product development and commercialization. Some agri-food stakeholders were included, although Richards said the survey was not specific to the sector.
Physical distance, lack of infrastructure, Internet availability and quality, accessing funds and, in the case of agri-food businesses, transitioning from small-scale to large-scale production, were identified as potential obstacles by the survey.
“Food processing is a possibility,” Richards said. “There is help out there for anybody who wants to get a food-processing business going and they should try and assist anybody who’s trying to do that.”
