Efforts towards building a proposed new Ontario Sustainable Crop Research and Innovation Centre at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus have received a funding boost.
Kent & Essex Mutual Insurance Company recently pledged $100,000 for the project's second phase.
Since current facilities were built in the 1940s-1960s, Ken McEwan, director at the Ridgetown Campus, said the rather large project would be highly beneficial for researchers and students.
"It will provide significant improvements in our lab space, it will also provide opportunities for our graduate students to be able to do more advanced laboratory and analytical work," he said. "It will provide a lot of enhancements to our existing research output... so it's a very positive step that will enhance the overall competitiveness of our food system. "
In order to move on with plans for Phase 2, McEwan said the university needs to secure funding from the provincial and federal levels of government. The total project is estimated to cost $20 million.
"We've raised close to $3.5 million -- $3.7 million so it is our goal to continue with raising money and trying to draw awareness to the project and trying to ensure we have the best facilities for researchers," he said.
The first phase of the project is in its final stages. McEwan said it involves the construction of a $6 million Field Crop Services Lab, which will provide a workspace for 15 to 20 crop research technicians and some summer students.
"It allows us to move forward with tearing down our old agronomy building and begin to get ready for Phase 2," he said. "With the $6 million projects we're hoping that we'll be able to put a sign in the ground and possibly even break ground this fall."
McEwan said the funding partners -- which includes the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and private investors -- have helped significantly in the fundraising efforts.
"We feel very privileged and happy to have this [recent] contribution from Kent and Essex Mutual," he said. "It's a very important pledge towards a proposed new crop research centre."
Kevin Konecny, president & CEO of Kent & Essex Mutual, said the company was originally started by farmers who had been looking to insure themselves.
"Board members travelled to the Ridgetown Campus to learn about the impact the campus has on our southwestern Ontario communities, our policyholders, and throughout the province," said Konecny in a media release. "While visiting Ridgetown, our group toured the ageing crop research facilities, and at our next board meeting, the board agreed that this was an important project to support."
Phase 1 of the project received financial support through a provincial investment, the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO).