Agroup of Waskada entrepreneurs had received $4.895 million from the federal gover nment and another $75,000 from the province to build a hemp oil-processing plant in the community.
“This is a great day for Waskada and the R. M. s of Brenda, Arthur and Winchester,” said Keith Hannah, president of Farm Genesis Group Marketing Inc. Jan. 19. “The new Farm Genesis Group processing plant will allow us to satisfy incredible international demands for Manitobabased agri-food products.
He said the group consisting of 32 local farmers, has explored and cultivated demand for hemp oil through intensive international marketing over the last two years. “We are now ready to build the commensurate processing facility.”
Read Also
Canadian Cattle Association names Brocklebank CEO
Andrea Brocklebank will take over as chief executive officer of the Canadian Cattle Association effective March 1.
Stan Struthers, Manitoba minister of agriculture, food and rural initiatives and Merv Tweed, member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, minister of state for western economic diversification, announced the support while in Brandon attending Ag Days last week.
“The construction of this value-added hemp processing plant will be a strong link in Manitoba’s food industry,” Struthers said in a release.
“Investments such as this are creating and protecting jobs, supporting Canadians who have lost their jobs, helping threatened industries, and laying the foundations for our future prosperity,” Tweed said.
The project includes the purchase of new processing, packaging and shipping equipment for the facility. A strategic marketing plan will also be implemented, designed to build a brand identity within the functional food and natural health product sectors.
