AGRIS Co-op pledges $100,000 to new Ontario Sustainable Crop Research and Innovation Centre

CHATHAM, Ontario, Jan. 15, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AGRIS Co-operative board President John Nooyen announced at the co-operative’s annual meeting, that AGRIS has pledged $100,000 towards the construction of a new Ontario Sustainable Crop Research and Innovation Centre to be built at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus.

The proposed new research centre will focus on sustainable cropping priorities for Ontario producers and will feature state-of-the-art research suites, laboratories, seed storage units and research offices. When complete, it will also be a learning centre for agricultural students in diploma, masters or Ph.D. programs.

“AGRIS Co-operative has a long association with the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus and we are proud to help support the construction of this new Ontario Sustainable Crop Research and Innovation Centre,” says Nooyen.  “This will continue AGRIS Co-operative’s rich heritage of leadership in supporting local agricultural initiatives,” added Nooyen. AGRIS Co-operative also assists in supporting other agricultural events at the Ridgetown campus such as the Southwest Agricultural Conference and Crop Diagnostic Days.

“This new Crop Research and Innovation Centre will not only be of tremendous benefit to the students and faculty of the Ridgetown Campus, but also to producers in southwest Ontario and across Canada, providing them with valuable agronomic information,” says Jim Campbell, AGRIS Co-operative general manager.

The new Ontario Sustainable Crop Research and Innovation Centre will work to keep Ontario agriculture globally competitive. It will address issues in production systems, best management practices, crop evaluation, agronomic strategies, trait development, nutrient management, land usage, resource and energy application, variety development and evaluation and plant breeding.

AGRIS Co-operative Ltd. is a 100 per-cent farmer-owned grain marketing and farm-input supply company that serves more than 1,000 farmer owners in 14 locations in Essex, Kent, Elgin, Middlesex and Lambton Counties. It is a leader in precision farming technology, seed, agronomy and petroleum services. The co-operative is a partner of Great Lakes Grain, a grain merchandising company. AGRIS Co-operative is a member-owner of GROWMARK, Inc. and markets products and services under the FS banner. 

Visit www.agris.coop or www.fssystem.com or www.ridgetownc.com for more information.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/535c5122-cdd1-4b84-98ff-776c83e45cd0