2003 Managing Excellence in Agriculture Conference

• Start
• Objectives
• Agenda
• Speakers
• Partners & Exhibitors

Canadian International Grains Institute, Winnipeg

The Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) in downtown Winnipeg is much more well known overseas than it is in Canada.

Teaching the benefit of Canadian grains

The reason for CIGI's fame outside of Canada? CIGI educates foreign buyers on the benefits of purchasing Canadian grain products. Since 1972, 21,000 people from 107 countries have taken CIGI educational programs.

Showing them what's possible

CIGI does more than "talk" about what can be done with Canada's grain, it also shows foreign buyers. In the Canadian Grain Commission high-rise office building, where CIGI resides, there are a number of on-site production facilities. At left, CIGI Director of Programs Tony Tweed shows visitors the Institute's flour mill. Here, foreign buyers are shown the multitude of flour blends that can be created. The machine that is shown demonstrates the varieties of pasta that can be produced.

How it works

CIGI does not invite foreign visitors directly. Instead, the invitations come from Canadian commodity groups eager to show potential international buyers what can be done for them. CIGI pays all expenses for visitors and receives 60% of its funding from the Canadian government, 40% from the Canadian Wheat Board. But not all the education takes place in Canada. CIGI also goes off-shore to meet buyers on their own turf.

CIGI also offers educational programs for Canadian farmers on the topic of grain marketing.

Web Site: http://www.cigi.ca/