The Rural Voice, 1983-03, Page 19by William Burdge
Wielding long handled pneumatic
shears, Dennis Timbrell, Ontario's Min-
ister of Agriculture, cut the ribbon
opening the Ontario Centre for Farm
Machinery and Food Processing Tech-
nology at the centre's location in
Chatham. A large gathering of farmers
and "who's who" of the farm scene in
Ontario, were served a sumptuous sam-
ple of Ontario's food industry, from fac-
tories, fields and vineyards during the
noon hour.
Sharing the platform with Timbrell
was Gordon Walker, Minister of Indus-
try and Trade; Andy Watson, MPP for
Chatham Kent; Bob Eaton, Middlesex
MPP and Minister without portfolio;
John Leeson. Kent County, Warden and
Margaret Archibald, mayor of Chatham.
This was the fourth of six technology
centres opened in Ontario recently. The
Micro -electronics Centre in Ottawa will
assist manufacturers to obtain, under-
stand and adapt custom-made semi-
conductors (chips) for new product
innovations. The Robotics Centre. Pe-
terborough. and the centre for Compu-
ter Aided Design and Manufacturing
(CAD -CAM) in Cambridge will help
industries achieve increases in produc-
tivity and international competitiveness.
In Sudbury, the Resource Machinery
Centre has been opened to develop a
domestic machinery and equipment
manufacturing capacity for Ontario's
resource-based industries. The Auto
Parts Centre. St. Catharines. will bring
together all segments of the auto
industry to develop programs to keep
pace with the rapidly changing parts
technology in North America.
In keeping with the technological
theme, Premier Bill Davis and Provincial
Secretary for Resources Development
Lorne Henderson addressed the audi-
ence via closed circuit television from
Toronto.
The Farm Machinery and Food Pro-
cessing Technology Centre will work
closely with Ontario -based research in-
stitutions. food processors, manufac-
turers and growers, to adapt state-of-
the-art technology assisting Ontario's
Agricultural industry to reap the full
benefits of the new "high tech." era.
The five year plan for the centre was
developed by an advisory committee of
representatives from farm machinery,
and food processing industry, the agri-
cultural and academic communities and
the Farm Safety group. A consulting
firm visited major farm and food pro-
cessing research centres in the United
Kingdom, the United States and the
JL-
•
Cutting the ribbon with "high tech" pneumatic shears
v
BTARIO CENTRE FOR
FAIN viACHINERY AND
FOOD PROCESSING
TECHNOLOGY
Prairie provinces, interviews were con-
ducted at many branches of Agriculture
Canada. Over one hundred people from
sixty organizations were consulted
while preparing the plan.
The planning group set out four key
objectives for the Centre: to promote
increased productivity; to develop adapt
and improve farm and food processing
machinery for Ontario conditions; to
increase imports and decrease exports
and to promote the competitive nature
of Ontario industry through the in-
creased use of technology In support
of these objectives. the main focus of
the centre will be towards the small and
medium-sized industries in both farm
machinery and food processing.
During the opening ceremonies, Gor-
don Walker said research and de-
velopment is the key to future com-
petitivness. Ontario's Technology Cen-
tres provide a vehicle whereby govern
ment academia, and industry can work
to put Ontario on the leading edge of
technological innovation.
'IRE RURAL VOICE. MARCH 1983 PG 19