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Agribusiness Manufacturing & Technology

Sector Structure

Size: A major segment of the Advanced Manufacturing cluster, agribusiness manufacturing and technology shipments exceed $1 billion. As much as 70% is exported with the majority bound for United States market destinations, particularly the Upper Midwest. Comprising in excess of 250 Manitoba-based firms, this diverse yet integrated industry sector employs an estimated 5,800 people.

Dominant Activities, Structure & Concentration:

Predominant activities are the production of equipment and technology, and the provision of related services for all aspects of crop and livestock production, with a focus on the grain-based value chain.

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are supported by a large and diverse network of OEM suppliers producing quality-assured components, sub-assemblies, spare parts and precision services. OEM suppliers alone number more than 80 and also supply the aerospace, building products, construction/off-highway, recreational vehicle and transportation industry sectors.

Highlights:

Beyond the sector’s North American market focus, a strong nucleus of firms export to developing offshore markets. Manitoba-made agricultural solutions can be found in well over 50 country markets worldwide. Priority market regions include: Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Eastern/Western Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

Capabilities and Products

Key Players

Competitive Strengths

Clustering of diverse agribusiness industry capabilities

Manitoba leads the country in its agricultural diversity. In addition to significant agribusiness manufacturing and technology activity, Manitoba is the focal point for Canada’s grain-based industries: commodities, transportation and marketing; regulatory agencies; value-added processing; manufacturing; process technology; consulting engineers; turnkey construction; training and education. Winnipeg, Manitoba is home to most of Canada’s major grain marketing companies and a myriad of industry support groups which has created a unique and comprehensive level of industry integration and synergy. Organizations like JRI – Pioneer Grain, Agricore United, Paterson GlobalFoods, Cargill, the Canadian Wheat Board, the Canadian Grain Commission, and the consortium, Agri-Tec International, have been pivotal in helping to build Manitoba’s reputation as a global leader in grain handling.

Additionally, the proximity of Manitoba’s agribusiness related manufacturers -- to each other, to national players in other sectors of agribusiness activity, and to the demanding western Canadian agricultural marketplace – has fueled the innovation that has made Manitoba a world-class producer and exporter of leading-edge dryland farming technology.

Export of agricultural technologies and capabilities

Agri-Tec International Inc., headquartered in Winnipeg, is a Canadian agribusiness industry consortium that provides to international markets a single source for Canadian grain handling, storage and processing technology and expertise. Agri-Tec provides design/build construction of turnkey grain handling and storage facilities.  Agri-Tec's capabilities also include the design, engineering and complete turnkey operations for feed mills, flourmills, seed conditioning plants and malt facilities. 

Low Manufacturing Costs

In its 2004 Competitive alternatives study, KPMG profiled over 120 manufacturing centres located throughout the G-7 nations, and found overall business costs for a typical manufacturing enterprise in Winnipeg were among the lowest for North American cities studied.

Trends

The emergence of larger-acreage, corporate farms has led to the development of new GPS-based information technology (geomatics) to optimize cost-effectiveness and farm management efficiencies.

Rationalization of western Canada's grain transportation system in the last decade has resulted in new technological developments in grain-based handling, storage and automated processing systems.  It has also led agribusiness manufacturers to introduce new products, technologies and processes that respond to emerging needs of producers who are diversifying their farming operations.

Contact

Mr. Bill Teerhuis, Trade Specialist
Manitoba Trade & Investment, a division of Manitoba Competitiveness, Training and Trade

Phone: (204) 945-2428
Fax: (204) 957-1793
Email: bteerhuis@gov.mb.ca
Web:  www.manitoba-canada.com

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Advanced Manufacturing Initiative Website

A.M.I. Newsletter March 2006 | For Back issues

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