Bioenterprise Canada Announces Recipients of the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative Commercialization Stream

Sep 11, 2024

Guelph, ON– Bioenterprise Canada is pleased to announce the successful applicants of the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) Commercialization Stream! Ten organizations have been selected for first call for proposals to receive funding to conduct market validation and product development projects, and to bring those innovative solutions to the market. The projects will help foster economic development of the sector, ensure protection and assurance in the sector, and provide stewardship of Ontario’s capacity to produce food.

Through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Bioenterprise is receiving up to $3.4M to deliver the OAFRI Commercialization Stream. This initiative provides successful applicants with up to $150,000 in non-repayable acceleration funding to transform innovative agri-food research ideas into leading-edge technologies, services, and new market-ready products.

“Ontario’s agri-food sector plays a vitally important role in bringing top-quality food to Canadians,” said the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “With support under Sustainable CAP, these organizations will be able to tap into resources to help them get their innovative products closer to market. Congratulations to those selected!”

“Commercialization is a crucial step in bringing innovation to market and advancing the competitiveness of Ontario farmers and food processors,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “We are proud to work with Bioenterprise to ensure new products, technologies and solutions are available for Ontario’s farmers and agrifood businesses, which supports the prosperity of our broader industry and the province as a whole.”

“Congratulations to the successful applicants; all highly innovative companies,” says Dave Smardon, CEO at Bioenterprise. “Market validation and product development are critical elements to the ultimate commercialization and adoption of these technologies. It is through the vision and programming of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness and the partnership with Bioenterprise that has enabled us to be a catalyst to deliver these innovations to market for the betterment of the agriculture and food sector in Ontario.”

Source : Bioenterprises.ca

Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?