Saskatchewan Pulls Together for Global Biotech Week
Ag-West Bio chairs the planning committee for Global Biotech Week in Saskatchewan, which includes 17 events across the province. Our committee consists of research facilities, educational institutions and outreach organizations who all have much to offer and celebrate.
During Global Biotech Week, the Global Institute on Food Security at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) will open the doors to its facility, which contains the only biofoundry in Canada built for agriculture and food innovation. They are holding a seminar discussing automation for engineering biology and hosting tours on September 23. Genome Prairie and VIDO are celebrating notable anniversaries, 25 and 50 respectively, so celebrations will be taking place that week, including a two-day symposium offered at VIDO entitled “Healthy People, Healthy Animals”. The Canadian Light Source and Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. will be offering tours throughout the week.
Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources will be featured in an Advancements in Ag Research webinar on September 23, at Café Scientifique on September 24, and as the inspiration for an art installation at Nuit Blanche on September 20.
International Connections
The Global Agri-food Advancement Partnership is an incubator-style organization that invites international agri-food business startups to build their businesses in Saskatchewan. They are currently hosting ERGO Biotech, an Argentinian company that is creating animal proteins using plant cultures. They will be one of the stops during The Amazing Biotech Race, which connects high school students and students from Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Bioscience Technology program.
Ag-West Bio has also recently invested in LGCY Innovation Hub, a nano-fermentation facility in the back of 9 Mile Legacy Brewing. 9 Mile Legacy built the facility to reinforce their commitment to how things are done in Saskatchewan. Cassy Appelt, Director of LGCY says, “It comes from our roots in Saskatchewan farming, where two heads are better than one and neighbors help neighbors without hesitation. That same mindset led to the creation of LGCY: Innovation Hub, our in-house space for experimentation, practical questions, and data-backed decisions.”
They have recently made waves in the international brewing sphere when they partnered with Novonesis, a global company based in Denmark, to test the performance of unmalted wheat treated with biological brewing aids. The results surpassed expectations and led to the launch of Disruptor Wheat Ale that increased extract efficiency and reduced runoff time by over 20%. They presented their unprecedented results at the Craft Brewers Conference in Indianapolis in May.
9 Mile Legacy will be participating at Biotech on the Market on September 25, a fun opportunity to explore the differences between brewing and distilling while enjoying good food and drink at Gather Market in Saskatoon. Cassy will also be presenting a webinar on how microbes are quietly shaping the future of food and drink in Canada. She will also be attending a Biotech Careers panel discussion hosted by the Saskatchewan Science Centre and the University of Regina.
The various events underway during Saskatchewan’s Global Biotech Week have impacts across the globe, and will reach primary and secondary students, teachers, the general public and the rich biotech community across the province. We are grateful to the members of our planning committee, and for the support of our sponsors. To learn more about events, our committee and our sponsors, visit our website.