Manitoba’s provincial government announced on Thursday that it would commit $13 million to the Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (GATE) initiative.
For Korey Peters, a grain farmer from Randolph, Manitoba, this investment in agriculture isn’t just news—it’s personal.
“This is big,” Peters said during the press conference. “Access to markets is more important now than ever. Over 90% of what I grow on my farm goes overseas, and this project helps make sure we can keep doing that.”
Peters, who runs Herbsigwil Farms with his family, is excited about the GATE project and which will be a new facility and program that will help connect international buyers directly with Manitoba grain producers, built in downtown Winnipeg.
The goal? Bring buyers from around the world right into Manitoba to learn about Canadian cereals, try new recipes, and build long-term business relationships.
Peters says, “I actually went to Southeast Asia with Cereals Canada back in the fall of 2023. We were meeting with some big grain buyers, showing off that year’s crop. One of them was interested in developing a brand-new baked product for their market. Next thing you know, we’re setting up Zoom calls to talk more, and now there are plans for their team to come here to Winnipeg and test the product at this new facility. That kind of thing doesn’t happen without support like this.”
The announcement was made by Premier Wab Kinew, who emphasized how important this kind of investment is, both for agriculture and the local economy.
“We heard about this project and we said, you know what, we need to get down there,” Kinew said. “We're going to bring a whole lot of bread, because this thing is the best thing since sliced bread.”
Kinew also pointed to ongoing trade tensions with both the U.S. and China, and said the province is looking for new, stable markets for farmers and exporters.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy here. And this project helps us show the world what we have to offer—right here in downtown Winnipeg.”
For Peters, it all comes back to making sure that Manitoba farmers stay connected to global buyers. And that takes more than just great grain—it takes relationships, information, and places like GATE to bring it all together.
“This kind of investment supports the work Cereals Canada is already doing—connecting buyers with the expertise, the data, the people,” Peters said. “Expanding markets doesn't happen by accident. It takes a team. And this is a great example of farmers, industry, and government working together.”
Peters also gave a shoutout to Cereals Canada, commodity groups, and fellow farmers who keep pushing the industry forward.
“This is the kind of support that lets us keep growing and keep showing the world that Canadian grain is worth it.”
At the end of the day, Peters said, this is about more than just dollars.
“This keeps us competitive. This keeps markets open. And for farmers like me, that means everything.”