According to BioTalent Canada’s labour market report, Sequencing the Data, access to capital and skilled talent are the two top challenges for the biotech sector. Despite the access-to-skilled-labor challenge, only 7.6% of bio-economy companies have persons with disabilities on staff, a fi …

A growing number of notable speakers will be heading to Fargo, North Dakota, Sept. 18-21, 2016, as plans take shape for the annual Agricultural Bioscience International Conference. The event, considered to be the premier global meeting promoting innovation in agricultural bioscience, is being he …

by Noelle Chorney Synthetic biology may sound futuristic, but it is a technology that has been used successfully for many important applications in the last decade—and we are only beginning to tap its potential. Phillip Stephan, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Saskatchewan …

The Saskatchewan LEAN Improvements in Manufacturing (SLIM) program is open to agri-businesses involved in value added processing of Saskatchewan crops and livestock into food, feed, or bio-products. The goal is to help these businesses adopt best practices, new technologies and state-of-the-art …

by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Farmers in Western Canada know the benefits of well thought-out crop rotations. These can reduce the impact of harmful insects, reduce the amount of fertilizer needed, improve soil health and lengthen the period when specially bred crops remain resistant to dis …

A new online resource aimed at connecting industry with university research expertise and resources has been launched by the Industry Liaison Office at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S). The Portal for Industry Engagement is designed as a gateway to all U of S research and development resou …

Farmers looking out for farmers  “It was a group of farmers who got together to suggest to the government of the day that those funds should be used to fund crop research,” says Lorence Peterson, past Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF) executive director, of the beginnings …

Wilf Keller says the advancements in agricultural biotechnology have enabled Canadian farmers to produce the highest quality, world-renowned commodities. Agricultural biotechnology (sometimes known as agritech) is an area of science that employs living organisms (plants, animals and microorganis …

by Monica Gordon, Ag-West Bio According to Farm and Food Care’s publication “The Real Dirt On Farming,” less than 2% of Canadians have a direct connection to a farm nowadays—a distinct change from a couple decades ago. While the number of people involved in farming is …

Sustainability is back on the agenda and replacing Survival as the ‘S’ word our industry has concentrated on for the past decade. Sustainability is a term that has become very familiar to us. Some of the original uses of the term were in the science of ecology and pertains to the interac …

Order your Compensation Guide before March 31st - to get next year’s issue for Free!  That’s $515 in savings. Members get an extra 25% off. Ag-West Bio in partnership with BioTalent Canada is pleased to offer a Compensation Guide, providing a national review of 32 of th …

by Jackie Robin, Ag-West Bio Rex Newkirk seems to have found his ideal job as the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Endowed Research Chair in Feed Processing Technology at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S). He gets to use the experience he has acquired over the years as an entrepreneur a …

by Ellen Grueter, SaskCanola Social license is a topic that is front and centre and the focus of much discussion in our industry these days. As an industry whose success has been built on innovation, the canola sector continues to advocate for evidence-based decision making. Canada has one o …

New Centre of Excellence will add value to Saskatchewan’s agriculture, food and health sectors Ag-West Bio welcomes the creation of Natural Products Canada Inc.(NPC), the nation’s newest Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research.   The Government of Canada’ …

SASKATOON - A Saskatoon group has won the bid to host the 2019 International Wheat Congress, a first-of-its-kind event that will bring together more than 600 wheat scientists to discuss advances in wheat research and the future of wheat in helping avert a global food security crisis by 2050. The …

Wilf Keller, President and CEO of Ag-West Bio discusses Saskatchewan's bioscience industry, and upcoming events and activities.

High-throughput plant imaging Over the next 50 years, farmers will need to grow more food than has cumulatively been grown since mankind emerged. While the first Green Revolution radically boosted crop production, we’re in need of another big boost. A technology with significant prom …

by Kaitlin Kelly, University of Saskatchewan It is assumed by governments in many developed countries that consumers support the replacement of petroleum-based products with biomass-based products, which leads to continued investment of public funds into the development and production of biopro …

This summer, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) announced a partnership to provide the tools and expertise Canadian firms need to translate research and development from the lab to the marketplace. The two organizations will leverage existing …

by David Roberts, Smart Earth Seeds, Linnaeus Plant Sciences It seems ironic but a solution to the overfishing crisis in the worlds' oceans can be directly tied to the productivity and ingenuity of dryland farmers in Western Canada. A new research study confirms that meal and oil derived …

by Cami Ryan Summary: • Research objectives need to be linked to markets and society’s needs; that’s innovation • Federal funding agencies (like Genome Canada), and their partners, adhere to strict standards in scientific research, ethics, transparency in engaging k …

by Jason Tratch At a recent Innovation Conference in Toronto, a seminar focused on "What is the key characteristic/trait of a Successful Leader/Manager or PM in today's day and age." It must be noted this continues to change as our business and personal worlds evolve. I find t …

Ag-West Bio offers strategic and competitive intelligence training for small and medium enterprizes (SMEs) in Saskatchewan's bioscience sector. This FREE service for Ag-West Bio members enhances the business environment in which SMEs operate by promoting the development of mark …

If you are a new business, going through challenging times or want to grow your business Join the Raj Manek Business Mentorship Program The Raj Manek Business Mentorship Program (RMMP) has been operating since 1998 and is accepting applications for their September intake.     R …

by Noelle Chorney Canola oil is a key factor in McDonald’s meeting its health and sustainability goals. At the 14th International Rapeseed Congress in Saskatoon, Gail Crocket, Director of Strategic Supply and Mitch Smith, Director of Quality Systems, Agricultural Products in US Supply Chain …

by Elizabeth Shih If the Health Opportunities Committee (HOC) of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce could show how Saskatoon could “get to great” by being home to $300 million of revenue from the world’s health market in the next 10 years, would you want to get onboard? …

Are your customers concerned about GMOs? What about getting a 'wheat belly?' Do they go out of their way to buy organic? In order for food ingredients or products company to make sound business choices it is helpful to understand how consumers are making their purchasing decisions.  …

by Victor Assad These are the infamous words of U.S. agricultural economist, Theodore William Schultz, who won (with British economist Sir Arthur Lewis) the 1979 Nobel Prize for Economics for his influential work on the role of human capital, including education, talent and energy, for growth. …

Picture this A Saskatchewan farmer uses microbial inoculants and biostimulants (microorganisms that promote plant growth and health) instead of the agrochemicals that are traditionally used on her crops to give them a strong start and protect them through to harvest. Her farm’s healthy and …

“I cannot believe how fresh that tastes; where can I buy it?” were just a couple of the comments from people who sampled Prairie Berries’ new saskatoon berry puree at Natural Products Expo West/Engredea in Anaheim, CA in early March. In addition to the positive comments, the …

Agricultural policy is a very dynamic and interesting area of the industry. It is broad-based and the issue of the day can change as quickly and frequently as the weather. Policy development is about paying close attention to what is happening within and outside government and how various events …

The third edition of the Saskatchewan's Bioscience Resource Guide (Ag-West Bio's 'Little Green Book) is now available, both in hard copy and online. This publication, which features 94 companies and organizations active in Saskatchewan, is produced as a tool to promot …

Up to $20,000 to hire a recent graduate in a bio-related position There are thousands of new biology and life science graduates entering the workforce this spring. The Canadian government is looking to simultaneously help post-graduates find work and help Canadian companies hire the talent they n …

by Kris Foster, University of Saskatchewan Tiny helicopters flying over crop fields may become a common sight thanks to a research partnership between the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and a Saskatoon-based company. Drones outfitted with a specialized camera will enable agriculture produ …

Taking advantage of proximity to the agricultural sector by Noelle Chorney Robert Lamb claims he’s like a moth, drawn to the brightest lights in the world. He has spent his career in universities and using synchrotrons. Most recently he moved last September from Australia where he had be …

by Raymond Deschamps, Stratex  Does your team implement strategies effectively?  Are your projects as successful as you’d like? If not, you’re not alone … For many organizations, a strategy sets the direction and scope over the long term, and includes goals and o …

Successful technologies, processes, innovations and business all have one thing in common – an in-depth understanding of their consumers, competitors and industry’s environment. This understanding is a result of the analysis of comprehensive market research. Sometimes we may think our …

by Brad Bly, Ag-West Bio The first quarter or 2015 saw a number of long-standing dominoes fall for Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF), a Canadian biotechnology company based in Summerland, BC. The company’s flagship project, nonbrowning Arctic® apples, received commercial approval in both …

by Noelle Chorney Saskatchewan grows 96% of Canada’s lentils, 90% of its chickpeas, and 70% of its peas, and is projected to produce three million metric tons of lentils in 2015. But while we have tapped many of the traditional export pulse markets, there is great potential to expand in …

February 24 & 25, 2015 9:00 am - 5:30 pm Food Centre (Peterson Building) 54 Innovation Boulevard Saskatoon, SK U of S Campus Objectives: Increasing interest and demand by consumers around the world for safe, high quality foods are pressuring food processors to develop and implement …

  Raj Manek Mentorship Program seminar: Pricing and developing your product February 10, 2015 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Vicogen Boardroom, Innovation Place,  111 Research Drive, Saskatoon SK   Presenter: Brent Banda, President and Senior Consultant, Banda Ma …

14th International Rapeseed Congress (IRC 2015) July 5-9, 2015 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Once every four years, industry and research leaders gather from around the globe to discuss advances and challenges around rapeseed and canola. This summer, the 14th International Rapeseed Congress …

Ag-West Bio invites you to a lunch and learn about Trade Show Intelligence. February 23, 2015 11:30 pm - 1:30 pm Candle Span, Innovation Place 111- Research Drive, Saskatoon SK *Lunch will be provided Trade shows are a treasure trove of market information…but where do you start? Whe …

Camelina meal has been approved for the first time in Canada for use in broiler chicken feed.  Camelina is a drought tolerant oilseed crop that can be grown with low inputs on marginal land while providing valuable crop rotation benefits. Rich in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids, the incl …

Have you ever wondered where a truly great idea for a natural health product came from or asked yourself whose visionary mind thought to analyze, investigate and shape a substance into an innovative new health product? After all, once upon a time, someone looked at algae floating in the ocean or bee …

Concierge Service provides single point of access to innovation support programs and services Having difficulty finding funding and other resources needed to grow your business? Wish you could just pick up the phone and be pointed in the right direction? Many small business owners have found themse …

...........Launched in 2001, the Gold Leaf awards are given annually to recognize both companies and individuals who have made significant contributions to the biotech industry in Canada. The Awards’ importance to the recipients and the industry more broadly has grown significantly over the ye …

Attracting Australian and international delegates from a broad range of industries and backgrounds, ABIC 2015 will be a valuable opportunity to promote your brand, products and services to the global agricultural biotechnology community. ABIC 2015 will be held in Melbourne, Australia from Septemb …

STEMfest is a festival of world-class conferences, meetings and events related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and it is coming to Saskatoon!   SEPTEMBER 27 — OCTOBER 3, 2015 Prairieland Park Trade and Convention Centre, Saskatoon, SK • 12 interna …

  Ag-West Bio works to provide the broadest level of access to valuable information tools for Saskatchewan's bioscience community. To meet this goal, Ag-West Bio is coordinating a consortium to provide desktop access to Elsevier B.V.’s Corporate Edition of ScienceDirect …

2015 New Year message from Wilf Keller, President & CEO of Ag-West Bio    

Wishing you happiness this holiday season. From all of us at Ag-West Bio!

Emerging Agriculture is the largest Agricultural based Hackathon in Canada! November 21-24, 2014 The Atrium at Innovation Place 111 Research Drive Saskatoon, SK   Organized by the University of Saskatchewan Junior Chamber of Commerce, Emerging Agriculture will connect students …

  Scientific Research & Experimental Development - Free Public Information Seminar     November 19, 2014 8:45 am to 11:45 am Candle-Span Room The Atrium at Innovation Place 111 Research Drive Saskatoon, SK Who Can Attend? Business of all sizes and i …

The Agriculture and Agri-Food Hiring Initiative offers funding to support wage subsidies for employers to hire recent graduates in agriculture, agri-food, agri-food science, and veterinary medicine. Each internship must last between 4 – 12 months and applicants are eligible to receive up t …