With simply two per cent of Canadians residing in a rural setting, it means the overwhelming majority haven’t any connection to the place their meals comes from.
“It used to be they had a grandpa or grandma that had a connection. That’s not the case anymore. And that’s not just in Toronto. Even in our own community throughout southwestern Ontario, lots of individuals don’t have a connection to be able to go to a farm and take their kids and learn about modern agriculture,” says Perth County farmer, Steve Dolson.
As a long-time farmer, Dolson needs to alter that. In 2020, he helped give you the thought to construct the Huron-Perth Ag Science Centre, however 4 years later, a reputation change is so as.
“We plan to call it the Ontario Agri-Food Discovery Centre. To be all encompassing, to be Canada’s first Ag Science Centre, Agriculture and Food,” mentioned Dolson.
The proposed centre would have displays and shows about agriculture, and the intersection between science, know-how, and the often-misunderstood world of meals manufacturing.
In line with Dolson, will probably be just like the Dynamic Earth at Science North in Sudbury, which focuses on the mining trade.
“The tractors today are so precise with the equipment attached to them, that there’s no wastage of anything, as far as fertilizer and seed. In the livestock end of things, genetics — we are doing DNA analysis on all of our young stock, to see their potential as far as replacements going forward,” mentioned Dolson.
The centre will likely be positioned within the Municipality of North Perth however the dimension hasn’t been determined.
A smaller 20,000 sq. foot, $20-million facility, with the potential to draw 42,000 guests a 12 months, or a bigger, 38,000 sq. foot, $38-million facility, with the potential to draw 70,000 guests a 12 months, are each up for dialogue.
How a lot, and the way shortly they discover funding, will decide the Agri-Meals Discovery Centre’s future.
“We feel that the agricultural industry will share with us the need for such a facility, and we will be going to organizations outside of the local community for support going forward, as well as all levels of government,” mentioned Dolson.
If all goes properly, Ontario’s Agri-Meals Discovery Centre, might be welcoming guests by 2028.
“We want to help individuals across Ontario know more about where their food comes from,” mentioned Dolson.
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