Bayer Invests $45 Million in New Canola Research Facility in Winnipeg

A new canola research and development facility will be established in Winnipeg with an investment of approximately $45 million. The multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Bayer announced that operations at the facility are expected to commence by the end of 2028. This initiative aims to bolster Canada’s position as a leader in canola innovation.

During an interview on Thursday, Kerran Clements, North America breeding chief of staff with Bayer Crop Science, revealed that the company is collaborating with engineers to finalize the design specifications for the facility. Clements stated that the site will focus on seed development for canola, camelina, and winter canola, supporting activities such as trait integration, yield trial seed processing, and seed quality analysis.

The facility will integrate Bayer’s canola breeding operations, incorporating laboratory work and seed quality analysis to ensure compliance with both international customer standards and domestic regulations. “It will be a combination of our canola breeding operations; everything from the lab and seed quality analysis work that’s done to ensure that the canola is meeting the quality determined by our international customers and also our domestic regulation,” Clements explained.

Winnipeg currently hosts the majority of Bayer’s canola breeding initiatives, including operations at the University of Manitoba’s Smartpark. Clements emphasized that the new facility will be a “first of its kind built-to-suit building” designed specifically for these operations and reassured that there are no plans to downsize existing activities in the region.

“This announcement really cements our long-term commitments and longevity to western Canadian agriculture, to western Canadian growers, and certainly within the province of Manitoba,” he added. While the exact location of the new facility has yet to be determined, it is expected to enhance Bayer’s capabilities in canola research significantly.

Bayer’s current Smartpark site will continue to conduct early breeding for canola, while its Carman site will serve as a nursery field for multiple crops. The establishment of this research facility represents a significant investment in agricultural innovation and reflects Bayer’s ongoing commitment to advancing canola cultivation in Canada.