Seed-corn company spending $8.8M on new facility
Chatham-Kent’s agri-business sector is getting a major boost in 2026.
That’s due to an $8.8-million investment that will see Maizex Seeds build a new state-of-the-art seed-corn plant in Blenheim.
According to Maizex Seeds general manager Blake Ashton, the new plant is modelled after the company’s plant in Tilbury.
Designed by Maizex founders Dave and Brenda Baute, the single-storey flow-through design of the Tilbury facility will be utilized, but will include additional automation and other capabilities.
“They had a vision of how a seed-corn plant could be more efficient, with a focus on seed quality as the underlying criteria to the plant design,” Ashton said in a recent media release.
The Canadian seed-corn market continues to be driven by strong demand and is an important industry, Ashton explained, noting the company has been increasing sales across the country with a strong product line.
“In addition to providing economic benefits to the local community, as well as a value-added crop for area farmers through seed-corn production, we continually invest through hiring and training our team of dedicated seed professionals that work and live here in Chatham-Kent,” Ashton said.
The new facility will replace an existing seed-corn processing plant that was acquired in 2019 following the formation of the joint venture between Maizex Seeds and Sollio Agriculture. It’s a national company producing and selling seeds under the Maizex brand across Canada.
The company also sells forage seeds and cereal varieties in eastern Canada, recently introducing several canola hybrids.
The company points out that Chatham-Kent is unique globally as it has a long frost-free growing season and consistent moisture due to its location in the Great Lakes.
“We are truly fortunate to grow seed corn in one of the best seed-corn production areas in the world,” Ashton said. “This investment confirms our savoir-faire and expertise, and our desire to support our customers, the profitability of their farms, and our commercial growth for the future.”
Founded in C-K, Maizex Seeds is the seed division of Sollio Agriculture.
