Product Development Network
The PARC region is ideally situated in the resource rich region of Manitoba which creates a competitive advantage for firms looking for product development close to major services. Research and development (R&D) tax credits are available in Manitoba and can reduce the cost of eligible R&D by almost 60%. In combination with foreign exchange rates and competitive labour costs, means that companies can contract R&D at very competitive rates and is a great way for foreign companies to outsource their R&D activities to Manitoba firms.
Foreign firms can access these cost advantages by either outsourcing their R&D to a Manitoba company or by conducting R&D activities in a Manitoba subsidiary. The key advantages in Manitoba are: reduced after-tax cost of eligible R&D (due to tax credits), competitive labour rates and cost savings resulting from favorable exchange rates. For further information about Manitoba’s capabilities see www.gov.mb.ca.
Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation (PCDF)
Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation (PCDF) was established as a non-profit, non-share corporation in 1996 with its headquarters in the Roblin area. PCDF works in cooperation with other Diversification Centers, to support rural entrepreneurs and farm businesses with small plot research information on crops and cropping programs that will lead to new crop developments, diversification and value added opportunities to the rural economy of the North West area.
PCDF has a range of facilities and plot equipment for applied research activities. The PCDF Board is currently focusing on industrial hemp, high yielding wheat for ethanol, higher oil & higher yielding canola for biodiesel and pulse crops.
PCDF’s has built a network of partnerships within the research and industry community to bring scientific developments quickly to the field as applied research, to support diversification and value added opportunities. Market development and information transfer will continue to play and important role in the PCDF mandate. An agricultural producer Board of Directors helps set the mandate for PCDF activities. PCDF plays an integral part with the Agri-Food Innovation and Adaptation Knowledge center of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI). Each year an annual report of researched crops is developed and made available to the public.
Phone: (204) 937-6467
e-mail:
Website: www.mts.net/~pcdfnw/
Richardson Centre for Functional Food and Nutraceuticals
The Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals is in the midst of exciting and ongoing research. Located in Smartpark Research and Technology Park, University of Manitoba, the Centre is dedicated to the discussion, discovery, and development of functional foods and nutraceuticals, with a focus on the crops of the Canadian Prairies.
Phone: (204) 474-9787
e-mail:
Website: www.umanitoba.ca/research/rcffn/
Composite Innovation Centre
Supported by the expansive agricultural base in Manitoba, the Composites Innovation Centre (CIC) has made the development and commercialization of naturally occurring materials in composite structures a priority. This has resulted in the establishment of a pilot bio-fibre processing capability at the CIC, featuring industrial equipment such as a 450 ton hydraulic press, a hammer mill, a fibre separator, a furnish blender and a resin applicator. Further, the CIC has obtained resin characterization equipment and has implemented other testing capabilities such as for fibre, resin and void content assessment. The laboratory provides the CIC with the capacity to process and test new prototype bio-fibre products.
In September 2006, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) granted the CIC $750,000 in funding to support bio-material research and commercialization under the Agricultural Policy Framework Agri-Innovation Program. Efforts are on-going to replace fiberglass reinforcement materials with lighter-weight flax and hemp fibres and develop markets for their co-products such as shive. This initiative is a natural fit for industry’s objectives and the CIC’s own bio-materials mandate.
Working closely with corporate and government partners, the CIC is harnessing the potential of bio-material composites for current industrial uses and beyond. The newly established Composites Innovation Centre in nearby Winnipeg facilitates new product development in composites and helps close the gap between research and commercialization. The CIC is involved in a mix of projects with numerous clients, government agencies and educational institutes including Boeing Canada, Dow BioProducts and the National Research Council.
Phone: (204) 262-3400
Website: www.compositesinnovation.ca
Email: smckay@compositesinnovation.ca
Food Development Centre
The Food Development Centre is a special operating agency of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Department with the Province of Manitoba. The Centre provides state-of-the-art facilities for applied research and development for the food, beverage and feed industries. Clients can develop and produce new food products and processing technologies in its Federally-licensed pilot plant. Resources and services include: pilot plant, product development, process development, nutritional labeling, regulatory affairs/HACCP, library information services and education.
Toll Free (CDN): (800) 870-1044
Phone: (204) 239-3150
Fax: (204) 239-3180
Website: www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/fdc
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Brandon Cereal Research Centre
The Brandon Research Centre (BRC) is one of the five original Experimental Farms established by the federal government in 1886. Located in the Parkland region of the Canadian Prairies in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, the centre is part of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) national network of 19 research centres across Canada researching crops such as canola, wheat, oats, barley and pulses.
Phone: (204) 726-7650
Fax: (204) 728-3858
Website: www.agr.gc.ca/re/centres/index_e.php?s1=brc-crb
Canadian International Grains Institute
Incorporated in 1972 as a non-profit market development organization, the Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) is dedicated to promoting Canada’s field crop industries in international and domestic markets through educational programming and technical activities. Representatives from grain, oilseed, pulse and special crops industries worldwide are invited to participate in CIGI programs and seminars. Since its inception, close to 24,000 individuals from 110 countries have attended the CIGI program.
Phone: (204) 983-5344
Fax: (204-983-2624
e-mail:
Website: www.cigi.ca/
Biolin Research
Biolin Research Inc. is a private company that carries out R & D, consulting and education activities to help clients profitably grow, process and/or use the fibers produced in the stems of flax and hemp plants. Such fibers can be used in pure linen and linen blend textiles, insulation, plastic composites, geotextiles, absorbency products, specialty papers and other products. Our projects include work in agronomy, quality measurement systems, mechanization, microbiology, processing technologies and end-use applications.
Phone: (306) 668-0130
Fax: (306) 668-0131
e-mail:
Website: patdec.gestion-ressources.com
Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute
Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) is an applied research, development and testing organization with clients in the agricultural, transport, military, aeronautics, forestry and mining industries. Services include design, development, fabrication and evaluation of vehicles, machinery and components.
Phone: 204-239-5445
Fax: 204-239-7124
e-mail:
Website: www.pami.ca/
Canadian Grain Commission, Grain Research Laboratory
The Canadian Grain Commission is a Federal Government Agency that operates under the Canada Grain Act. The commission has played an historic role in positioning Canada as the world leader of high quality grain through its establishment of grading guidelines. The 700 employees in the Winnipeg head office provide a number of value added services for farmers, elevators, researchers and industry leaders.
Phone: 1-800-853-6705 or (204) 983-2770
Fax: (204) 983-2751
e-mail:
Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre - undertakes evaluation of irrigation technologies, field testing of crop performance, and evaluation of specialty and niche crops.
Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre - provides technical assistance to the malting barley and brewing industries.