Dr. Keith Downey was a key member of a team of Canadian scientists who developed the first varieties of canola – now the source of one of the healthiest edible oils available and a $19 billion dollar industry in Canada. Known as one of the “Fathers of Canola”, his long list of awar …

The dawning of a new age in the relationship between science and society? Science is a leading factor in economic growth. New research leads to new products or ways of doing things, which are demanded by us as consumers. Knowing that consumers continuously demand and expect new products to be int …

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’ …

The traditional method of promoting new technologies to consumers is to provide scientific and technical information about the origin and benefits of the technology. After all, if consumers don’t understand the benefits, they may feel uncertain and anxious about a product. So it should make se …

This year, the National Research Council (NRC) marks its 100 year anniversary.  In my former role as an animal scientist at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) I knew of the NRC building on the campus as the “Plant Biotech Institute” or “PBI.” I thought of it …

Acceptance of evolution goes hand in hand with respecting science and its processes. Yet evolution is largely ignored by our education system. Around 40 per cent of Saskatchewan students will graduate from high school without receiving any formal education in this fundamental concept. There is no …

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 …

by Stuart Smyth Were it not for the snow on the ground, I would have thought it was April Fools, not Christmas when I read the Western Producer story, Anti-GMO group says yield gains non-existent (December 3, 2015). Lucy Sharratt, Taarini Chopra and the Canadian Biotechnology Action Net …

by Stuart Smyth Recently I was in Amsterdam attending and speaking at a conference that is focused on better understanding the production, and international trade of, different types of crops. Not production and trade of different commodities, such as wheat, barley or flax, but the different kind …

by Jackie Robin, Ag-West Bio In the basement of Winston's Pub in downtown Saskatoon, around 30 people are getting settled in, chatting and ordering beverages. Rough beams and exposed brick walls, together with a mishmash of heavy, wooden furniture creates an atmosphere both casual a …

by Shayla Hertz I have been asked to share my perspective, as a current agriculture student, on environmentalism and the importance of science in agriculture. I grew up on a grain farm outside of Edenwold, Saskatchewan and was raised in a community thriving with farmers. When I graduated from hig …

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 Jackie Robin   On September 22, 2015, Saskatoon Nutana Rotary Club and Meewasin hosted a ceremony to unveil a brick dedicated to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Norman Borlaug. The Father of the Green Revolution, Dr. Borlaug believed that the most advanced knowled …

by Shelley Jones Improving the public perception of agriculture is a strategic priority for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. It is written right into our business plan. As a government, it is our goal to see the industry grow. But without the public’s understanding, the public&rsqu …

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 …

by Michael Robin Earlier this summer, science writers from across Canada gathered in Saskatoon, at the University of Saskatchewan, for the annual conference of the Canadian Science Writers’ Association. One of the great things about the conference (other than it being held at one of the gre …

Thank you to Green State TV for sharing this video. In the tenth installment of this ten-part series, independent scientist Dr. Kevin M. Folta (University of Florida) takes on the most common GMO myth of all: that GMO food is dangerous. Watch Part 1 Watch Part 2 Watch Part 3 Wa …

This captivating video illustrates some of the resources that the Saskatchewan Bioscience Cluster has to offer.  

The following blog was written by Dr. Graham Scoles in response to a column by Paul Hanley “Chemical-free farming viable” in which he poked fun at Patrick Moore for refusing to drink Roundup herbicide during a TV interview. So Patrick Moore refused to drink the Roundup. He might also …

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 …

Last weekend marked the third annual “March Against Monsanto” in which protestors took up placards in various cities around the world to voice their fears about genetic modification (GM) of crops. As earnest as these people are, their fears are baseless; after two decades of harvestin …

The desire to know more about how genomes work has attracted thousands of researchers as well as billions of investment dollars. Advances in computers, biology and information sharing have revolutionized how plant breeding is now done. As a point of reference, consider the following. > The …

As was expected, recent changes to Canada’s Plant Breeders’ Rights legislation are delivering new crop varieties to Canadian farmers.  The Plant Breeders’ Rights Office (PBRO) has granted rights under the new legislation (PBR91) to 12 new agricultural crop varieties, develo …

by Graham Scoles Despite the fact that our agriculture systems produce more food than ever, modern agricultural systems seem to be coming under increasing attack, particularly in Europe and North America. I would contend that while our present agricultural systems have their faults, no alternate …

In this age of the World Wide Web we can travel (virtually at least) to any place on earth, learn about people, animals, foods and technologies; imagination is the only limit. Information is available at the push of a button. The wonderful thing is anyone can post anything and add their voice to …

As readers of this blog may recall, the federal government tabled Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act, in late 2013. The Bill was to amend some eight agricultural statutes, including the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act. The government’s intent has been to create stronger intellectual pr …

  by Terry Daynard Every Canadian likely knows that honey bee numbers are plunging, we’re likely to starve without bees to pollinate crops, and there’s such an easy solution: Ban the usage of those insecticides called neonicotinoids (neonics). The campaign for a ban has bee …

by Stuart Smyth My kids love apples. I can’t even fathom how many times I’ve wished I could have included sliced apple into their school lunches when they were in elementary school. The inability to include apple slices in children’s school lunches is something that has not only …

by AWB US “Right to Know” (US-RTK) is a lobby group opposed to genetic modification (GM), and with the mandate to implement mandatory labelling of foods produced using GM technology. The organization has requested public records (such as emails) going back to 2012, from public univers …

Sustainability, agriculture, innovation and food are the themes set for a new blog launched out of the University of Saskatchewan. The blog, SAIFood, is the brainchild of Stuart Smyth, an agricultural economist who holds the Industry Funded Research Chair in Agri-Food Innovation. In his introdu …

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 …

How do we assure consumers that the food grown in our province is healthy, safe and responsibly produced? How can farmers and ranchers let people know about the care and attention they give their land and animals? What strategies can we employ to get our message out effectively? These are just so …

John Gormley, host of NewsTalk 650 John Gormley Live, took the opportunity to interview Dr. Nina Fedoroff when she was in Saskatoon last fall to speak at the Agricultural Bioscience International Conference (ABIC 2014). Fedoroff pioneered in DNA sequencing, determining the nucleotide sequence of the …

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 …

by Robert Wager A Tuesday morning in Nanaimo and the fog is thick. I am headed to Saskatoon to speak at the Saskatchewan Young Ag-Entrepreneurs/ Canadian Association of Farm Advisors conference. The heavy fog leads to a series of flight delays, turning what should be a seven hour trip into a 25 h …

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

This is our fourth post on Bill C-18 and its and its proposed amendments to the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act (PBRA) In our first post, we set out the context of development of seed varieties in Canada. In our second post, we examined the current PBRA and the rights conferred on a breeder b …

I sell my flax product at various trade shows and I am amazed at how the average consumer just goes on hearsay about genetically modified (GM) food, without researching it. From hormones in beef to organic produce to ‘gluten is killing our society,’ and even how the poor farmer is &lsquo …

From mosquitoes in the backyard to diamondback moths in canola fields, insect pests are more than an annoyance. They spread disease, ruin crops and cost billions of dollars in losses, from limits in productivity due to health issues to financial losses from control inputs and damage to fields. Oxite …

~ Jason Tratch, CEO Galex Group   The decision to close a project must be clear and understood by all project team members.  Often stakeholders think the only way a project can close is if it is completed.  However, a mature organization will close/cancel projects quit …

      Janice Tranberg, Assistant Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, speaks on the unique environment that allows the biotech cluster to thrive in Saskatoon. ABIC 2014: Global Leadership in a Changing World - October 5-8, Saskatoon, SK …

by Bill Crabtree Australian farmers are amazed at the rapid and complete (98%) adoption of GM canola across the Prairies and how it is grown with no fuss and with great results. This is not the case in Australia, where the technology has only recently been legalized and the delay has come at grea …

Every summer the Federal Government begins announcing which industry sectors are receiving funding to support the sector’s growth. Fortunately, the government has acknowledged the strong capacity and potential of the broad bio-economy and has renewed funding to the Biotalent Career Focus Progr …

Risk group 3 (RG3) infectious diseases have the potential to cause serious health and economic consequences.  For example, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus have caused recent concerns in North America.  To combat the threat of these types …

~ Mike Spears, Genome Alberta Ag-West Bio is Saskatchewan's bioscience industry association. It has been moving beyond its agricultural roots and has member companies that cut across a wide swath of the bioeconomy. One of those companies is Agrisoma which won the coveted Gold Leaf Company …

About 160 producers and industry insiders spent a beautiful sunny day attending the 16th annual Summer Field Day hosted by the Western Beef Development Centre (WBDC) at the Termuende Research Ranch near Lanigan, SK on June 24. A full slate of scientists speaking on a wide range of topics under th …

by Michael Robin, U of S Communications Advances in science depend not only on discovery but on public policy that allows them to be developed into products people can use, explains Meritt Kocdag, a research assistant with the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGSPP). Kocdag r …

Students from grades 3-6 are being introduced to agriculture this summer at the AgBio Discovery Camps hosted by the College of Agriculture and Biosciences on the University of Saskatchewan campus. The AgBio Discovery Camps offer a fun, hands-on introduction to modern agriculture for campers from …

Dr. Brian Rossnagel, professor emeritus, University of Saskatchewan Crop Development Centre, talks about why ABIC 2014 should be marked on your calendar. ABIC 2014: Global Leadership in a Changing World will be held in Saskatoon, SK Oct 5-8

~ BioTalent Canada Earlier this year, BioTalent Canada, with the support of the Government’s Status of Women Canada program, announced a new project Connecting and Advancing Women in the Canadian Bio-economy to connect and advance women in biotechnology; which is typically classified as a & …

Starting July 1 Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation went into effect.  CASL, as it is affectionately know, aims to stop the spread of spam in the online world.  It is a complex piece of legislation and even if you think it’s unfair, it’s crucial to have an understanding to pro …

Genome Prairie: Request for Applications – Genomics and Feeding the Future Genome Canada, in partnership with the Western Grains Research Foundation, has launched a Request for Applications for the 2014 Large-Scale Applied Research Project Competition: Genomics and Feeding the Future. …

Developing new technologies takes time, effort, perseverance, and a heck of a lot of capital; it can be a tough road, but for Agrisoma Biosciences it's also an extremely rewarding one. During BIO International in San Diego on June 24, Agrisoma Biosciences was presented with the Gold Leaf &lsq …

Tourism Saskatoon, the Saskatoon Hotel Association, and Saskatoon Sports Tourism recognized Wilf Keller and the Ag-West Bio team for bringing numerous visitors to the city over the years through conference activity, and specifically for work on the Agricultural Biotechnology International Confe …

THRIVE Juice Co. is Saskatoon's first raw and nutrient dense cold pressed juice company. Since beginning in December 2013, THRIVE has grown steadily. Recently, the were recognized for their growth and potential at the North Saskatoon Business Association awards when they were honoured with the Y …

POS Bio-Sciences recently finished commissioning their newest technology in the oils processing area. The newly installed short-path distillation system (SPD) system offers POS clients a commercial scale system for the fractionation and purification of high-value ingredients – such as omega 3 …

A successful Science Fair effort to test water-based extracts of spices and honey to prevent the spread of a fungal disease called Fusarium head blight earned Deeksha Kundapur, 16, a $500 Manning Innovation Achievement Award at the 53rd annual Canada Wide Science Fair held at the University of Winds …

To anyone concerned with food security, water security is of fundamental interest. Major droughts that affect agricultural yields are regularly in the news, such as the Texas drought of 2012, or the California drought that is happening right now. Dr. Howard Wheater, the Director of the Global …

Peter Phillips, Professor and Graduate Chair at the University of Saskatchewan Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, speaks about the unique bioscience cluster in Saskatoon. ABIC 2014: Global Leadership in a Changing World October 5-8, 2014  

2014 BIO International Convention -Booth #2011 -Ag-West Bio announced today that Saskatchewan will have a strong presence at the 2014 BIO International Convention, in San Diego. The Saskatchewan Biosciences Booth will highlight innovations in agriculture and health, such as plant-made pharmaceutical …

2014 BIO International Convention -Booth #2011 -Ag-West Bio announced today that Saskatchewan will have a strong presence at the 2014 BIO International Convention, in San Diego. The Saskatchewan Biosciences Booth will highlight innovations in agriculture and health, such as plant-made pharmaceutical …

By Jason Tratch, CEO Galex Group Amazing problem solving & innovation come from increased blood flow & relaxed environments.  Do it today, implement a mandatory "Walking Meeting" for all managers/leaders.  Best practice examples: - Start with minimum of once per week& …

David Gerecke (Saskatoon) and Aimee Schalles (Vancouver) In our last post, we outlined the rights granted to plant breeders under the current Plant Breeders’ Rights Act (PBRA). In this blog post, we propose to outline how Bill C-18, if it became law, would change the sco …

  Thank you to Green State TV for sharing this video. In the ninth installment of this ten-part series, independent scientist Dr. Kevin M. Folta (University of Florida) argues that GMO technology can be a boon for environmentalism. Watch Part 1 Watch Part 2 Watch Part …

  Thank you to Green State TV for sharing this video. In the eighth installment of this ten-part series, independent scientist Dr. Kevin M. Folta (University of Florida) argues that scientists, rather than activists, should be trusted in discussions about GMO technology.  …

  Thank you to Green State TV for sharing this video. In the seventh installment of this ten-part series, independent scientist Dr. Kevin M. Folta (University of Florida) explains where to find trustworthy and scientific online sources discussing GMO technology.    …

  Thank you to Green State TV for sharing this video. In the sixth installment of this ten-part series, independent scientist Dr. Kevin M. Folta (University of Florida) addresses consumer concerns about 'frankenfoods,' or foods that contain genes inserted from other plant …

  Thank you to Green State TV for sharing this video. In the fifth installment of this ten-part series, independent scientist Dr. Kevin M. Folta (University of Florida) addresses concerns that independent scientists have their hands tied when it comes to studying GMO technology …

  Thank you to Green State TV for sharing this video. Part four of this ten-part GMO Mythbusting series, with Dr. Kevin Folta. In this episode, we asked him about the supposed connection between GMO food and new allergens. His answer is below: Watch Part 1 Watch Part 2 …

  The hazard of participating in an opinion forum on a scientific topic is that science isn't forged from opinion. Two juxtaposed viewpoints in the Sentinel provide the illusion that they are equally meritorious sides of the same issue. As typical with a scientific topic linked to a publ …

ABIC 2014 Speaker Highlights: Julie Borlaug Speaking at the Public Forum Sunday October 5 By Noelle Chorney No one knows better than Julie Borlaug the value of gaining public support for biotechnology projects. As the Associate Director of External Relations for the Borlaug Insti …

David Gerecke (Saskatoon) and Aimee Schalles (Vancouver) In our blog entry posted on March 3, 2014, we set out the broad context for the amendments to the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act (“PBRA”). In this post we will discuss the current legislation and what breeders in Canada c …

  Thank you to Green State TV for sharing this video. In the third installment of this ten-part series, independent scientist Dr. Kevin M. Folta (University of Florida) addresses the activist complaint that there are no long-term GMO studies on human health. Watch Part 1 Wa …

David Gerecke (Saskatoon) and Aimee Schalles (Vancouver) In our blog entry posted on March 3, 2014, we set out the broad context for the amendments to the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act (“PBRA”). In this post we will discuss the current legislation and what breeder …

On April 17th Ag-West Bio and Innovation Place co-hosted a breakfast and information session to shine some light on UPOV 91 and the recently tabled Bill C-18, which contains amendments to the Plant Breeders' Rights (PBR) Act. Renowned plant breeder, Bryan Harvey (Professor Emeritus at the Uni …

The debate around genetic modification has been on-going since the first crops were introduced into the food system more than 20 years ago. Since then, both Health Canada and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration have approved a number of genetically modified crops for use as food (e.g. specific n …

Are you business SAVI? Funding for marketing, product/prototype development and training The SAVI program helps develop and expand small to medium-sized enterprises and producer/processor organizations who add value to agricultural products. It provides funding to these organizations to help capt …

Saskatchewan scientists have contributed key scientific resources to the oilseed crop known as Camelina with the publication of new research findings in the academic journal, Nature Communications. The article published today, features technical details of Camelina’s genome sequence resulting …

People learn more when they are having fun, and that is the goal of Agriculture in the City. The Lawson Heights Mall in Saskatoon was busy on April 5 with families learning a bit about life on a farm and the value of agriculture. Jan Cote from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada chaired the organizing …

ERA-CAN+ Information Session - Saskatoon, SK Monday, April 28, 2014 8:00 - 10:45 am Saskatoon Club (Upper Lounge) 417 21st St East, Saskatoon, SK This session will explain the structure of research funding in Europe and provide information on upcoming funding opportunities and the mechanisms by whic …

Kristi Snell, Vice President of Research and Biotechnology for Metabolix, Inc. talks about her company's technology and activities at its laboratory in the National Research Council facility in Saskatoon, SK.

Webinar: Friday 25 April 2014 @ 1:30 - 2:30 pm MDT Speaker: Rod Szarka Rod will explore some really important challenges for any start up as they navigate business development as well as offer some really insightful ways to address them. About Rod Rod Szarka combines a solid scientific background wi …

This June 10-12, Ag-West Bio and the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron will host an international workshop in the Application of Synchrotron Imaging for Crop Improvement at the Radisson Hotel in Saskatoon. Researchers using cutting edge technologies for crop development and synchrotron imagin …

Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada research leads to new opportunities on the prairies When most people in the Prairies look at fields of yellow, they immediately think of canola. But there are other yellow-flowered plants vying for attention. Ethiopian mustard (carinata) and camelina are both conte …

As a celebration of Canadian innovation, BIOTECanada's Gold Leaf Awards program is your opportunity to recognize both companies and individuals who have made significant achievements to our industry. Launched in 2001, these prestigious awards are given annually by Canada’s national biotech …

After five years of uncertainty in the marketplace, it’s a relief to see a return to growth. But this new growth cycle is far from typical. Instead of a credit expansion, it’s spurring a contraction of liquidity. As the global economy ramps up, federal bond-purchase programs are being ro …

Protein-rich quinoa is poised to become a major cash crop for Canadian agriculture and new research will help scientists develop new varieties of the ‘ancient grain’ better suited for our climate. With origins from the Lake Titicaca region of Peru, and with growing demand around the w …

ABIC Speaker Highlights “We live in a world whose major problems have no borders,” says Nina Fedoroff, who is a keynote speaker at this year’s Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC2014) in Saskatoon. “What affects developing nations affects all of us. He …

Saskatoon’s John Cross, respected business leader and founder of Philom Bios (now Novozymes BioAg), gives his views on activism, science and genetic modification. Read John’s biography

  Thank you to Green State TV for sharing this video. This is part 2 of a ten-part series: In this episode, we ask Dr. Kevin Folta whether the Seralini rat study proves a link between cancer and GMO food; Folta is a public scientist at the University of Florida. …

by Cami Ryan Paracelsus was a 16th century Swiss German physician, alchemist, astrologer who found the discipline of toxicology. He came up with this basic principle of toxicology: The dose makes the poison. "All things are poisons, for there is nothing without poisonous qu …

  Thank you to Green State TV for sharing this video. About: In this first episode of a ten-part series, Dr. Kevin Folta tackles the myth that GMO foods are unregulated. Dr. Folta is a public scientist at the University of Florida.   Dr. Ke …

by Noelle Chorney “Solving world hunger” is often considered not much more than a noble, but abstract and impossible goal. Dr. Ingo Potrykus decided to devote his career to solving that problem–specifically that of “hidden hunger,” or the lack of micronutrients in st …

by Keith Downey and Bryan Harvey As public plant breeders with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University of Saskatchewan for a combined total of over 100 years, we were pleased to see the recently tabled Agricultural Growth Act (Bill C-18). This Bill encompasses desirable amendments …

by David Gerecke Development of a new seed variety requires a substantial investment of time and money. The quest to discover new traits and improve plant performance can be highly unpredictable, particularly in traditional (non-transgenic) breeding, as the process of cross-pollination of related …

Advances in plant genomics in the 1980s and early 1990s resulted in the commercialization of genetically modified crops 20 years ago. The adoption, production and international trade of GM crops created unprecedented levels of debate and dialogue about modern society’s relationship with its fo …

The Conference Board of Canada’s 3rd Canadian Food Summit 2014: From Strategy to Action is taking place March 18-19, 2014 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Ag-West Bio members can attend the Summit at the reduced rate of $695 (please call for the code). Join us for the launch of the Cana …

The science of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) has been developing for decades. It is complex and requires proper training to understand. Unfortunately there is also a great deal of pseudo-science on GMOs. The internet is used to spread this pseudo-science. The public has no way to distinguish …

  Thank you to Green State TV for sharing this video Dr. Kevin Folta's biography Visit Kevin Folta's blog      

by Jackie Robin   Thierry Vrain, retired from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, is now an organic farmer on the west coast of Canada and on the speaking circuit against GM (genetic modification) technology. There really shouldn’t even be a debate about this anymore. More than …

by Terry Daynard   This column responds to a good question from an organic agriculture acquaintance. She’s convinced that I am quick to endorse all scientific reports supporting my tech-oriented perspective, while rejecting those supporting hers. “How do you decide what’ …

Jack Grushcow, President and CEO of Linnaeus Plant Sciences, talks about the potential of Camelina sativa, a crop with great potential as a feedstock for bio-industrial uses. visit Linnaeus Plant Sciences website

by Ari Yanover Photo: Golden Rice Project Genetically modified crops can be used to prevent the deaths of millions of children. Despite this, GM foods have an odd stigma attached to them. While these crops would not normally be found in nature, they are safe to eat. Thousands of studies and o …

by Susan Lamb Why is it so hard to get messages about scientific research across to the general community? And does it really matter if we do? To answer the last question first, of course it matters. As a former journalist, I worry when I see messages like the research on climate change di …

by Michael Oelck Last week’s blog, Building the Start-up Eco-System in Saskatoon by Glen Schuler, Lorna Shaw-Lennox and Laurel Reich is excellent and describes some of the concerns of being a start-up entrepreneur in Saskatchewan. The company examples in the article demonstrate convincingl …

by Robert Wager The anti-GMO industry has ramped up its attacks on genetically engineered crops and food made from them. From GE test plot destruction to demands for the banning of GE agriculture, this global industry uses fear and public ignorance of real science to advance its agenda. Recently, …

by Glen Schuler, Lorna Shaw-Lennox and Laurel Reich, U of S Industry Liaison Office    Critical components of a well-functioning innovation eco-system include the ability to foster technology-based start-up companies through accelerator programs, pre-seed, high-risk funding and …

by Kari Doerksen Yes, I want to talk about the science of agriculture. I want to engage in conversations, whether it is with a local politician, a Twitter follower or my neighbour over the fence. The world is changing. The way we communicate is changing. Misinformation and fear mongering are s …

by Michael Simpson One of the tactics of the GMO (genetically modified organisms, usually crops–some people use the term GM instead) refusers is that “there’s no proof that GMO’s are safe.” Typically, in a debate, the side making the assertion (those that say GMO&r …

by Les Henry  This piece is not just about agriculture but includes the broader scientific community. I see trouble brewing in science and fear that research funding will be further cut, to the detriment of our long-term health and welfare. You have all seen the picture of the elephant …

by Cami Ryan   How many times do we have to deal with the folly and fall-out of sub-standard science? In a letter titled “Future of Meat” published in the Western Producer, October 24, 2013, Jillian MacPherson references the same ol’ ill-reputed studies to challenge some …

by Stuart Smyth Numerous articles and reports have compared the production of organic and convention agriculture, concluding that on average, organic crop agriculture produces 25-30% less per acre. The most recent examination of the subject is a meta-analysis by Seufert, et al., (2012) that encom …

by Janice Tranberg I am passionate about agricultural biotechnology and the opportunities it provides and I feel we need to open the conversation and encourage people to apply critical thought and reasoning before making decisions on whether the technology provides us with opportunity or is a ris …

by Andrew Potter Infectious diseases of humans and animals have historically been the leading cause of death worldwide, a situation that has not changed to this day. These diseases are now in the public eye more than ever; indeed, it is difficult to go for more than a week without the media discu …

by Doug Heath This week marks the official release of the Camelina sativa genome sequence, which was completed by scientists from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the National Research Council - a collaborative effort within the Prairie Gold project, led by Genome Prairie. Camelina is an …

by Martin Reaney, President & CEO, Prairie Tide Chemicals

by David Gauthier   In my previous series of blogs, I highlighted some challenges that entrepreneurs face when growing a company and provided some advice on how to finance and plan for growth. In this blog, we will go back to the beginning and examine the challenges that entrepreneurs fac …

by Glen Schuler, Lorna Shaw-Lennox and Laurel Reich, U of S Industry Liaison Office   The U of S ILO office is located at Innovation Place in Saskatoon The University of Saskatchewan’s Industry Liaison Office (ILO) recently had an External Review Committee assess the office’ …

by Stuart Smyth Over the past month or so, there have been numerous protests against biotechnology firms and products. Many of the signs that people were shown waving in the protests were perplexing to say the least. Demonstrations of this nature do raise the question as to what foods could be co …

by Lorne Hepworth I am concerned to read that some people are so worried about the safety of genetically modified foods that they have taken to the streets. I would like to add to the conversation by providing some information that may help relieve their concerns. Canadians have access to o …

by Kari Doerksen In 2006, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada released its Science and Innovation Strategy:     “Canadian agriculture and agri-food industry is a cornerstone of our economic and social fabric. The sector is a key contributor to the high quality of life enjoyed by …

The 'March Against Monsanto,' an anti-GMO protest, is scheduled for May 25th. This blog entry is a joint effort by a group of independent international scientists to counter the fear propaganda that serves as the platform for initiatives such as these. We urge private citizens as well as jou …

by Cami Ryan You may have run across this article “10 Reasons We Don’t Need GM Foods” on the FoodConsumer website. It’s been making its rounds on social media (Facebook and Twitter). I would like to address some of the inaccuracies in this article – point by point: …

by Sean Alexander & Paul Armitage   The rising cost of energy and resources and the transition to a low-carbon economy have driven research, development and investment efforts in clean technologies. The global cleantech market is currently valued at US$1 trillion and is expected to gr …

Allan Green - Deputy Chief of CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra, Australia. Green was in Saskatoon, SK for the Plant Bio Industrial Oils Workshop, March 6-7, 2013 hosted by Ag-West Bio. He discusses the global bio-industry and his thoughts on the importance of moving away from petroleum reliance, shift …

by Scott Napper We live in remarkable times. It seems every week we are given new reason to celebrate science and wonder at the mystery of Nature. From God Particles to increasing evidence of life on Mars to treatments for seemingly incurable diseases, we have been given a front row seat to some …

by Graham Scoles   A 1906 statement attributed to Luther Burbank—“We have recently advanced our knowledge of genetics to the point where we can manipulate life in a way never intended by nature…we must proceed with the utmost caution in the application of this new found …

by Cami Ryan The Bowman vs Monsanto Supreme Court hearing is big news in the United States and we are seeing ripple effects of it up here in Canada. Although some headlines sparked by interest groups that oppose modern agricultural production methods, including use of genetically modified (GM) cr …

by Ravindra N. Chibbar Every New Year Canadians embark on their healthy eating resolutions or begin a diet to combat obesity and become healthy. In his book ‘Wheat Belly,’ Dr. William Davis promotes a new fad diet that is completely devoid of wheat to overcome obesity. While Davis …

by Susan Milburn   You may have noticed some public companies are moving to a private company structure, and more of them are doing it voluntarily. Dell is the latest high profile publicly traded company looking to go private, and Microsoft is lending them $2 billion to make it happen. Mayb …

by Reno Pontarollo   The twenty first Plant & Animal Genomics Conference (PAG XXI) was held in San Diego on January 12-16. This marks my seventh consecutive PAG event…but most attendees would consider me a rookie. Since its inaugural meeting in 1992 (called Plant Genome I), P …

by Stuart Smyth The benefits, both fiscal and environmental, are becoming increasingly well known in Saskatchewan and Canada from the mid-1990s adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops. In Western Canada, for example, the commercialization of GM canola in 1995 has resulted in a dramatic expans …

by Mischa Popoff The overwhelming majority of organic farmers in Canada and the United states are honest and hard-working. And guess what? They don’t care if their neighbors use genetically-modified seed. It’s the urban leaders of the organic movement who’re stoking irrational f …

Wilf Keller, President and CEO of Ag-West Bio, talks about what Ag-West Bio has planned for 2013 and looks ahead to a busy year for Saskatchewan's bioscience industry.

by Dr. Monique Haakensen Contango Strategies website

by Colleen Christensen   Everyone knows that Saskatchewan has the largest arable land mass in Canada. What that means is there are lots of entrepreneurs and government people who view Saskatchewan farmland as an optimal location to produce new crops for energy. These great companies ar …

by Lorne Hepworth Canadians have access to one of the safest and most abundant food supplies in the world. All crops, including those that have been genetically modified, are subject to Canada's strict regulatory standards that ensure Canadians have access to one of the safest food supplie …

Part 3 of 3 part series - by Dave Gauthier   Parts 1 and 2 of this blog reviewed some of the barriers to growing a company and provided tips for preparing a business plan to guide your growth strategy. This final installment will review the importance of financial literacy and capital pla …

Part 2 of 3 part series - by Dave Gauthier   In Part 1 of this blog, I reviewed some of the common barriers to growing a company. This second installment will focus on how to address these barriers through the development of a solid business plan to guide your growth strategy.   …

Part 1 of 3 part series - by Dave Gauthier Although every business and entrepreneur is unique, there are common evolutionary stages that businesses need to undergo to maximize commercial potential and sustain growth. Many entrepreneurial businesses fail or stagnate because of poor planning and be …

by Stuart Smyth A column written by Paul Hanley that ran in Saskatoon's StarPhoenix on October 9, 2012, is inaccurate and based on shoddy research by Charles Benbrook, who has a long history of releasing his reports on the Internet and arguing that herbicide tolerant (HT) crops are horrible f …

by Susan Milburn   In our world of enhanced governance and accountability to investors and lenders, but also in an ultra- competitive environment, start-ups are looking for an edge. Have you thought about adding an advisory board to your business? We all know that consultants, accountants …

(Why I find it hard to understand the results of the French experiment) I have not been able to critically review the above experiment, the results of which show that either providing RoundUp in drinking water or feeding genetically-engineered (GE) RoundUp tolerant maize to rats over a 700 day p …

by Kari Doerksen   This blog contains a lot of talk about social media. For those of you who want to give the social media “eye roll” please do so now. OK, let’s continue to the story below.     Calling All Science Researchers: You might be missing so …

by Steve Savage   There are some unique apples that could be coming to the market in the near future. They will taste exactly like some familiar varieties, but their distinguishing feature will be that they won’t turn brown after they are sliced. Scientists employed by a grower-owne …

by Colleen Christensen My career path has taken quite a few turns, but for most of my life I’ve worked in the animal agriculture industry. When I talk with people who aren’t familiar with the industry it never ceases to surprise me how unfamiliar people are in general about how animal …

by Peter Phillips The increasingly heated parliamentary debate about the omnibus legislation to implement the 2012 federal budget has virtually ignored an important set of regulatory changes now underway. While the public debate has focused on changes proposed for environmental review of resource …

by Mary Buhr Ron De Pauw was blunt on June 8 when he said “Stewardship, stewardship, stewardship: if you are sitting there not giving a rat’s ass about anything – at least care about stewardship.” Ron was speaking to the 2012 graduating class of students from the Colle …

by Steve Fabijanski There is a lot of talk these days about planes flying on renewable fuels. You are starting to see many articles about biojet and airlines flying on fuel made from algae or crops or other types of renewable oils. Let me start off by saying, it’s a good thing – but f …

by Susan Milburn   While you may not see much similarity between your own small business and Facebook, the recent initial public offering of their shares does point to a few valuable lessons for any business. As small business owners, we may not need to worry about global media, the SEC or t …

by Wilf Keller Recent articles published in the Globe and Mail and the Western Producer featured Ag-West Bio member Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF), a bioscience company that has developed apple varieties that do not brown. Ag-West Bio wishes to express support for both the company and the techn …

By Dave Gauthier In case you hadn’t noticed, there were significant changes announced recently regarding the organization and leadership of Saskatchewan Government ministries. Many people don’t care about such things. After all, this is the playoff season, so there is already plenty t …

by Sanj Singh Projections show that in Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and New Brunswick government health spending is on pace to consume 50 per cent of revenues by 2017 (Fraser Institute, 2011). Status quo health care is not sustainable; however it does create opportunities for valuable …

by Colleen Christensen I recently returned from Winnipeg, where I spent three days teaching a feedmill operators course at the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi). A number of teachers from Industry, Government and Academia, from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were there to teach …

by Susan Milburn Entrepreneurs are always looking for money to start their companies and traditionally have financed by using their credit cards, mortgaging their houses and putting private company shares in their RRSP plans. The rules around accessing RRSP money to fund your start-up company …

by Cami Ryan “Food” is often the first thing that comes to mind when we think about farming and agriculture; things like fruits or vegetables or commodity crops such as wheat, barley and canola. Food is an essential part of our everyday lives and we are fortunate to live in a part of …

by Peter Phillips The focus on science, technology and innovation (STI) in the federal budget surprised me—really! And it probably is a good budget for Saskatoon's research community. While the Conservative government has been quietly talking about and studying our investments in sci …

By Dave Gauthier The funding environment for start-ups has changed dramatically over the past decade, particularly for technology companies that require significant capital and time to commercialize a product. The bursting of the technology bubble in 2001-2002 essentially halted lucrative corpora …

by Peter Phillips European politicians and regulators are widely viewed as the major barrier to the optimal development, adaptation, adoption and diffusion of biotechnology in the global agri-food system. Given that the 27 member states in the European Union combined produce more food than any ot …

by Susan Milburn The Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association recently said that the amount of money raised in 2011 was the same as in 2010. That amount was about one half the amount raised in 2007 and includes an obvious lack of foreign investment into Canadian venture capital com …

By Dave Gauthier The Province of Saskatchewan is recognized globally for its active biotechnology cluster. Various studies over the past few years indicate that the investments made in infrastructure and research expertise in the Saskatoon life sciences cluster has produced: • 57 private …

by Mary Buhr As the global population grows by 30-40 per cent in the next 40 years, access to food will become more precious and agriculturally productive land will be increasingly at a premium. Limited access to food will be exacerbated if climate change reduces the amount of productive land in …

by Steve Fabijanski Not too long ago the role of energy in our life was pretty simple: electricity came from a big utility, usually owned by some sort of government or municipality, and fuel came from one of the big oil companies that dotted the landscape. We occasionally grumbled about prices an …

by Cami Ryan and Robert Wager The term organic has exploded in the last decade in our privileged and health-conscious first world state. In fact, the global organic industry is now a $50 billion a year industry. The Canadian arm of this industry, through a six-page “information featur …

by Peter Phillips On January 16, BASF announced that for all intents and purposes it is ending its plant biotechnology discovery research program in the EU and expanding activities in Raleigh, North Carolina. They also announced the headquarters of BASF Plant Science would move from Limburgerhof, …

By Dan Prefontaine Over the centuries the world trade in food has changed dramatically. In the early 19th century the human race as we know it was still primarily eating “locally.” With the advent of the industrial revolution and the need for concentrated food supplies, the world slow …

by Cami Ryan According to a study done by the Pew Research Centre in 2010, six in 10 (59%) consumers get news and information from a combination of online and offline sources on a typical day and use of TV and traditional newspapers are on a steady decline. Internet usage is steadily growing, ave …

  Wilf Keller, president and CEO of Ag-West Bio, talks about what's coming up in Saskatchewan's bioscience cluster in 2012.

Saskatchewan has the infrastructure and research expertise to make things happen. Worldwide, there is no question: bioscience innovation is needed. There will be more people on the planet and many will enjoy rising incomes. The amount of arable land is decreasing; many resources are less plentiful o …