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 …

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 …

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 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 …

                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 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 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 …

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 Michael Robin, University of Saskatchewan Whether it’s hormones in beef and preservatives in bacon, or pesticides and genetically modified foods, Stuart Smyth at the University of Saskatchewan wants to be part of the conversation. “If someone’s looking for information …

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 …

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 …

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 …

September 26 to October 3 was proclaimed Biotech Week in Saskatchewan by the Ministry of Agriculture as well as the City of Saskatoon and the City of Regina. A committee, chaired by Ag-West Bio, was assembled to develop the events for this year. A couple events have become standards: Biotech & …

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 …

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

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 …

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  

Jason Tratch says we don’t talk enough about money and environment in the same sentence. When speaking to Tratch, his passion for the environment is obvious. He is an entrepreneur who believes there is an important role for business in overcoming environmental challenges. “I’ll hug …

It’s something that farmers and feedlots alike have struggled with forever–what to do with all the organic waste produced by livestock. The current practice is to spread the manure on the land to dispose of the manure and recycle the nutrients. But there are concerns that land applicat …

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 …

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 Rebecca Gotto, Saskatchewan Research Council Farmers and agricultural processors in Saskatchewan produce a tremendous amount of crop and livestock residues, such as wheat and flax straw, oat hulls and poultry litter, that must be managed. Researchers at the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) …

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 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 …

December, 2011   As we put the last bows on Christmas gifts for our loved ones and wrap up 2011, the staff at Ag-West Bio would like to wish you a joyous holiday season and prosperity in the New Year.   I hope you enjoy the following new articles. We encourage your feedback and …

[caption id="attachment_233" align="alignleft" width="189" caption="Bio-based pesticides and fumigants are being developed that are safe for beneficial insects. Mustard is being used as the feedstock for biofumigants, biopesticides and fertilizers that support soil …

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 …

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 …