Cannabis company chooses Goderich for $14-million research and development facility
A Southwestern Ontario town, once described as the “prettiest†in Canada, could become known as an international hub for cannabis research, says the head of a marijuana company.
Supreme Cannabis, the parent company of 7Acres, the operator of a massive marijuana greenhouse in Kincardine, is expanding its footprint to Goderich, where it’s building a $14-million cannabis genetic research and development centre.
“We really think we have an opportunity to put Goderich on the map globally as a hub for cannabis agriculture.†Supreme founder and president John Fowler said.
The company’s 3,100-square-metre Cambium Plant Sciences will focus on developing the next generation of cannabis genetics for the recreational and medical markets, supplying agriculturally-focused and disease-resistant seeds to customers across the globe.
“We think we can revolutionize the way people grow cannabis by bringing the best practices of commercial agriculture and the gains of the agricultural revolution to the cannabis industry,†Fowler said.
“Because cannabis has been illegal in pretty much the whole world for the last century, all of the innovations that we’ve seen in traditional agriculture have missed cannabis.â€
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Overseen by former University of Guelph biologist Alan Darlington, Cambium will be among the largest stand-alone cannabis research centres of its kind in world, Fowler said, adding it will employ dozens of workers upon its completion later this year.
Goderich Mayor John Grace championed the project for bringing high-paying jobs to the Huron County community and taking up space in a previously vacant building at 449 Parsons Court that was built to house a sawmill.
“We ecstatic that they’re here,†he said of Supreme’s Cambium facility. “It’s research and development. Those are highly skilled, highly paid positions. We need that.â€
Grace also praised the cannabis company’s management for being easy to deal with and well prepared.
“They’re very professional,†he said. “They know exactly what needs to happen, what they need to do to meet all the municipal guidelines.â€
Fowler cited co-operation from local politicians as a major factor when deciding where to expand.
With 600 workers at its Kincardine greenhouse operation, 7Acres is the second largest employer in Bruce Country after Bruce Power, the operator of the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station, where 4,000 people work.