Page 16 - FDI Alliance International Magazine | September 2018 1

AGRIBuSINESS

THRIvES IN

Chatham-Kent

From growing for the world to distributing through international export, the food processing industry has a welcomed
home in Chatham-Kent

“Chatham-Kent is the ideal location to invest as the
When you choose Chatham-Kent, natural endowments of the area make it competitive.
you choose to gain access to: When you factor in the weather, crop heat unit (CHU)
days, soil quality, and availability of infrastructure
• Affordable land ready for development
and foreign manufacturing, it’s easy to see why
• Abundant natural gas companies are choosing to be here.” – Prashant
Pathak, CEO, Ekagrata Inc.
• Stable supply of affordable quality
fresh water Agriculture also plays a key role in the agribusinesses
located within the region. For example, the
• Access to high speed and fibre Internet headquarters for Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited, a division
• Serviced industrial land of DuPont and a major agricultural seed breeding and
biotechnology company, are located in Chatham-Kent.
• A competitive and experienced GreenField Specialty Alcohols Inc.'s Commercial
workforce
Alcohols division, Canada's largest ethanol plant
• Ready access to the uS market and one of the world's largest, is also located in
Chatham-Kent.
• An established advanced-
When it comes to agribusiness in Canada, there
is no place like the warm “banana belt” known as manufacturing supply-chain As a most recent example of majour investment,
Whyte’s, a leading Canadian-owned prepared food
Chatham-Kent. Located in southwestern Ontario,
• Key logistics options manufacturer and importer, has expanded from
Chatham-Kent is one of the largest municipalities
in the province and the 12th largest in Canada with • Competitive corporate tax rates Quebec into a new facility located in the Chatham-
Kent town of Wallaceburg.
over 2,450 square kilometers of the richest farm soil.
It is surrounded by fresh water, and is only an hour
sector, and other similar agribusiness. In addition,
drive to seven U.S. entry points. All of this means
the Chatham-Kent Economic Development team
that farmers and businesses, including the food
provides direct support for both domestic and
processing industry, have significant advantages
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) initiatives to ensure
over their competition.
that all investments yield their maximum potential.
Michael Burton, Director of Investment Attraction Agriculture and Agribusiness in
says “this provides our processors with a distinct Chatham-Kent
competitive advantage in penetrating the US market.
Agriculture is a $3 billion economic driver for the
Abundant feedstock of fresh vegetables with over 75
Chatham-Kent region with local crops including
varieties of crops makes Chatham-Kent an excellent
tomatoes, carrots, seed corn, cucumber, Brussels
site for new food companies that wish to establish
sprouts, pumpkins, sugar beets, and more. We also
North American operations.”
feature some year-round crops such as peppers and
Chatham-Kent has assets vital to supporting value- tomatoes which are grown in the ever expanding
added food processing operations, the greenhouse greenhouse industry.
16 FDI ALLIANCE | SEPTEMBER ISSUE 2018