by Monica Gordon, Ag-West Bio Hundreds of agricultural science experts came together on June 14-16 at the Delta Bessborough in Saskatoon, to discuss a one of the most pressing issues facing the human race: how can we ensure that everyone on our planet has enough to eat?  The Emerging Tech …

An international celebration created for the bioscience industry - a Canadian concept goes global: September 26 – October 2, 2016 by Nadine Lunt, BIOTECanada The world’s population is moving past seven billion and quickly towards the nine billion person mark. This rapid a …

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 …

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 …

by Elizabeth Shih Agriculture faces a daunting challenge: to sustainably feed 9.2 billion–the projected world population–by 2050. Of the anticipated increase, 86% will be in the developing world. Professor Sarah Gurr, Chair in Food Security and Head of Biosciences, University …

The Emerging Technologies for Global Food Security conference, with the theme Mobilization to the Developing World, will be available for global audiences to watch LIVE via YouTube, anywhere in the world.  This international conference will bring 300 scientists, policy makers and industry re …

This year marks the 20th year of Canadian production of genetically modified crops. We recently completed a major review for the journal, Global Food Security, on what the effect of GM crops has been in Canada and globally. Our conclusion? There have been substantial benefits for consumers, farmers, …

An exciting new conference is being launched in Saskatoon this year, hosted by the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS). Emerging Technologies for Global Food Security: Mobilizing to the Developing World is set to run from June 14-16 at the Delta Bessborough Hotel. GIFS, Ag-West Bio and the ABI …

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 Noelle Chorney, TallOrder Communications On February 26, Erin Armstrong, CEO of the newly formed Limagrain Cereals Research Canada (LCRC), spoke at Innovation Place about this venture, a partnership between Canterra Seeds and Limagrain that will strengthen Saskatoon’s position as a leadi …

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 …

Canadian pulses—dry beans, dry peas, lentils and chickpeas—are stepping into the spotlight in 2016 as the world celebrates International Year of Pulses (IYP). Chef Michael Smith is the first Canadian to pledge to eat more pulses in 2016. “Many Canadians are familiar with lentils …

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 …

                License to Farm is a short documentary exploring the role of science, sustainability and food safety in modern agriculture, encouraging farmers to stand up for their right to farm. Growing concern over consumer fear …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Phosphorus is a chemical element essential for life. Without adequate phosphorus, plant growth and crop yield are reduced. As plants grow, they remove phosphorus from the soil, which is subsequently removed from fields when crops are harvested. As a result, fertilizers containing phosphorus compound …

by Jackie Robin, AWB In a California lab in the 1980s, U.S. researcher Richard Jorgensen tried to develop an intense-purple petunia by adding an extra gene. He got a white flower instead. It took more than a decade for scientists to fully understand what had happened, but now they know: Jorgen …

  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 …

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 …

  by Noelle Chorney Three months in to his new role as Executive Director and CEO of the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), Maurice Moloney is focused on its strategy and long term goals.  With over 25 years of plant research innovation, and leadership roles that have incl …

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 …

Robert Saik, CEO of The Agri-Trend Group of Companies, talks about the benefits and importance of agricultural science, including genetic modification. Know GMO: An uplifting discussion about food Saik is spear-heading the production of a movie called “Know GMO: An uplifting discussi …

University of Saskatchewan (U of S) microbiologists Vladimir Vujanovic and Jim Germida have been awarded $1.9 million through Genome Canada’s Genomic Applications Partnership Program to work with Cambridge, MA based plant microbiome company, Symbiota™, on a $16-million research …

Dr. Nina Fedoroff (Penn State University) discusses her ABIC 2014 presentation on society and biotechnology with Bruce Sargent of Farmboy Productions.

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 …

The following is a letter addressed to the editor of The Western Producer, co-authored by Reno Pontarollo, President and CEO of Genome Prairie and Wilf Keller, President and CEO of Ag-West Bio Inc. It has come to our attention that The Western Producer is a Platinum Sponsor of the …

Helping companies bridge the pre-commercialization gap. This program was created to bolster innovation in Canada’s business sector. It does this by procuring and testing late stage innovative products and services within the federal government before taking them to market. It …

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 …

~ 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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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& …

  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 …

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

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 …

Ag-West Bio is pleased to be working with The Conference Board of Canada and the Centre for Food in Canada (CFIC), on the 3rd Canadian Food Summit 2014: From Strategy to Action, taking place March 18-19, 2014 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Ag-West Bio members are eligible to receive a reduc …

On September 24th we were pleased to welcome Mark Lynas to Saskatoon as a guest lecturer during National Biotechnology Week. Mark Lynas is an environmental author and campaigner.  In July, he published Nuclear 2.0: Why a Green Future Needs Nuclear Power. His most recent book in print is …

1. Historically, over the past 40 years, when and why did the first anti-GM movement come about? Is it because of science's lack of ability to explain how the GM process/technology works? The anti-GM movement has evolved over time. Different players, different strategies. Although North American …

by U of S News Steve Siciliano A new research partnership among the University of Saskatchewan, SIAST and Federated Co-operatives Ltd. (FCL) promises to help make it easier to clean up contaminated soil at former gas station sites. Researchers will explore how to advance techniques that use n …

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: …

The following articles were clipped and posted on Ag-West Bio’s newsfeed over the past two months. Subscribe for regular news articles. Government of Canada Highlights Successes of New Process for Natural Health Products U of S to welcome top-notch cancer researcher in Saskatoon MB Ag …

by Cami Ryan Agriculture and food production practices are often misunderstood by the public and maligned in the media. These days, misinformation regarding farming practice and food quality and safety can circulate like wildfire, fuelled by the tools like Facebook and Twitter. “No More Foo …

by Karen Tanino, U of S If there is any topic that every person on the planet can relate to, it is food. The 2nd Saskatchewan Food Summit (Feb. 27, 28, 2013 at TCU Place) provided a forum to address the regional food economy, access to locally produced food and Saskatchewan food security issues, in …

"Advancing Saskatchewan's agricultural advantage allows us to significantly increase the global food supply - our moral obligation as a good global citizen - while building the next economy, an innovation economy, here at home." ~ Premier Brad Wall – December 1 …

February 27-28, 2013 TCU Place Saskatoon, SK The Summit provides a forum to discuss the local food economy, access to locally produced food and Saskatchewan food security issues, in a globalized market. The 1st Saskatchewan Food Summit attracted 150 delegates from across the U of S campus, provin …

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 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 …

The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences invite you to participate in the 24th annual meeting of the National Agricultural Biotechnology Council to be held this June in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Continuing NABC's (National …

by Erin Prosser-Loose   Canada’s challenging growing season may be no match to Canadian research. Thanks to exciting findings by Dr. Raju Datla, a senior research scientist at the National Research Council (NRC) on the University of Saskatchewan campus, we may one day be able to …

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 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 Enterprise Saskatchewan Microbiology has moved beyond the lab and into the field. Thanks to people like Monique Haakensen, President of Contango Strategies in Innovation Place in Saskatoon, the resource extraction sector is increasingly harnessing the power of microbes and biological processes …

  The concept of environmental sustainability resonates in Saskatchewan, a province that relies heavily on natural resources for the economy. With almost half of Canada’s agricultural land, and nearly half the province covered in forest, agriculture, forestry and mining are the major ind …

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 …

Monique Haakensen was recently named one of Canada’s best young entrepreneurs by the Rogers Fuel Awards. Haakensen completed a PhD in microbiology, genomics and bioinformatics at the University of Saskatchewan. She says the common theme with other students in grad school was to move to another …