the Sector Page - Economic Development Regina Inc.

Regina’s Key Industry Sectors
AgriBusiness
Our Story
If Saskatchewan is known as the breadbasket of the world, then Regina is the kitchen that
combines the ingredients. The city is home to major agricultural equipment manufacturers,
grain distribution companies, a growing food processing sector, a vibrant agricultural service
industry and major events that introduce Saskatchewan and Canada’s agricultural products
and services to the world.
Altogether, Regina’s agribusiness sector employs almost 2,500 people – of which roughly 300
work in the food processing sector – and accounts for $467 million, or 2.9%, of the city’s total
gross domestic product.
Agricultural Equipment Manufacturing
2,500
employees
The region specializes in short-line manufacturing of agricultural equipment for precision
dryland farming. Regina region companies make tough and reliable equipment for tillage and
rock removal, spraying and fertilizing, livestock and forage, zero- and minimum-tillage seeding,
grain handling, storage and transportation.
Regina is headquarters for several large agriculture manufacturers that provide significant
economic spinoffs for the local economy. Key manufacturers include Brandt Agricultural
Products Ltd, Degelman Industries, Ralph McKay Industries, and Dutch Industries, among
many others.
Grain Distribution
$2.9
of Region’s GDP
Regina is also home to several heavy-hitters in the grain distribution system. Alliance Grain
Traders buys lentils, peas, beans and chickpeas from producers to support its network of
34 facilities located in Canada, United States, Turkey, Australia, China and South Africa.
The company also owns production lines for cleaning, sizing, splitting, colour-sorting and
packaging lentils, chickpeas, beans and canary seed products.
Alliance is joined in the market by Viterra Inc., which offers grain, oilseed and pulse crop
marketing services as well as grain terminals and processing plants. Today, Viterra is one of the
world’s leading integrated producers and marketers of commodities, and Regina serves as the attend Farm Progress and
Agribition
headquarters for the company’s North American operations.
160,000
Agri-Business Tradeshows
Regina hosts two of Canada’s largest agricultural events which combined attract more than
160,000 visitors and exhibitors, including buyers and sellers from around the globe. Canada’s
Farm Progress Show held in June, promotes the latest in dry land farm technology and an
International Buyers Program that brings together exhibitors and international buyers to
market Canadian innovations to global investors. Meanwhile, Canadian Western Agribition
held in November focuses primarily on Canada’s livestock industry, featuring show and sales,
educational events, a First Nations pavilion, an extensive trade show area and the Canadian
Cowboys’ Association Finals Rodeo.
Regina’s Key Industry Sectors
Food Processing
The food processing sector continues to expand, contributing $102 million to Regina’s gross
domestic product. The sector offers a variety of products to consumers, such as flour and
bakery mixes; peas, lentils and chickpeas; beef, pork, and chicken products; jams, jellies and
other preserves; as well as certified organic meats and cereals.
Significant players in this sector include Ready Bake Foods’ frozen pastries and dough
products; Avena Foods’ gluten-free oat products; O&T Farms’ animal feed and supplement
products; Best Cooking Pulses’ pea, lentil and chickpea products; and CanMar Grain Products
Ltd.’s flax seed items.
The Regina Advantage
46%
of Canada’s farmland in SK
Companies in Regina are ideally situated to realize the benefit of the regions agricultural
sector. Saskatchewan is home to 46 per cent of Canada’s farm land so agribusinesses are
near the country’s primary production area. This advantage is further enhanced by the Global
Transportation Hub (GTH), Canada’s only autonomous and self-governing inland port authority
anf FTZ designated facility. The GTH offers strategic partnerships with local service providers
for quick turnaround and efficient transportation to markets across the globe.
Agribusinesses in the province are also supported by a vast network of support services in
the province, such as, the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, the Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre, the National Research Centre Plant Biotechnology
Institute and the Saskatchewan Research Centre and POS Bio-Sciences. The provincial
government also has a number of agricultural support programs to assist lean manufacturing,
value-added processing, and research and development.
About EDR
Economic Development Regina Inc. (EDR) provides leadership to the community and works
with key stakeholders to identify, develop and promote opportunities that advance economic
prosperity for those who live, work, learn, visit and invest in the Regina region.
For more information contact:
Evelyn Cerda
ecerda@economicdevelopmentregina.com
306-789-5099 ext. 228
www.economicdevelopmentregina.com
45,000
farms in SK