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Networking in the North

Bioenterprise attends Venture Timmins innovation conference

The Bioenterprise Canada team was excited to be part of an innovation-themed entrepreneurial networking event in Timmins last month. Hosted by Link North, the Regional Innovation Centre in far northeastern Ontario and a Bioenterprise Canada collaborative partner, and Northern Ontario Angels, the one-day conference attracted more than 70 participants.

Those participants included investors, entrepreneurs and business organizations that support innovation across the Timmins region. The event also consisted of a speed-networking event as an opportunity for attendees to learn more about each other’s businesses and inspire future collaborations.

“Bioenterprise Canada was pleased to support our partner Link North by sponsoring, attending and exhibiting at this special event and to have the opportunity to meet a growing number of their food and agriculture entrepreneur clients,” says Emily Nanne, Bioenterprise Canada’s Northern Ontario Manager.

According to Nanne, a key outcome was the opportunity to raise awareness of the growing number of food and agriculture businesses in Ontario’s far Northeast and the opportunities that exist for the Bioenterprise team to offer more comprehensive support and programs to better serve their needs.

Another benefit was being able to meet other program and funding administrators who may offer collaboration opportunities that can bring additional value to the sector-specific services Bioenterprise offers.

“Ultimately, we want to keep agri-food innovations and businesses growing in the North and remote regions, and having that opportunity interact face-to-face with entrepreneurs and the organizations that support their growth is invaluable,” Nanne adds. “Being able to generate this level of insight directly from those who are passionate about economic success in the North lets Bioenterprise be market-driven and respond to the direct needs of the people actually working and doing business in the region.”

Bioenterprise welcomed Link North as a collaborative partner this past February. Link North works closely with the Timmins Economic Development Corporation, which is part of the Northeast Community Network, a larger regional group of more than 10 communities focused on agriculture and agri-food. It’s part of Bioenterprise’s commitment to supporting knowledge and capacity building and helping entrepreneurs innovate and grow their businesses.

Source : Bioenterprises.ca

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How to fix a leaking pond.

Video: How to fix a leaking pond.

Does the pond leak? Ummmm....possibly a tiny bit. Well, more than a bit...ok, the darn thing leaks like a sieve!

QUESTIONS ANSWERED: Damit is not plastic. Therefore, there are no microplastics. I wish I had not mentioned plastic, but that is a very common polymer and I mentioned it as an example of a polymer. A polymer is simply a chain of repeating molecules, or "monomers." Cellulose is a polymer of glucose molecules. Starches are also polymers of various molecules such as fructose, maltose, etc. We have many polymers inside our bodies. In other words, just knowing something is a polymer doesn't make it bad, toxic, harmful, etc. However, this also doesn't mean all polymers are safe.

The specific polymer used for Damit is a trade secret, however, it has been closely scrutinized by multiple health and safety authorities. This includes the governmental authorities of Australia, the USA, Europe, and Asia. Not only have they determined that is safe to use in earthen ponds, and not harmful to fish, but it is considered safe to use in human potable water systems in all of these areas. And of course, they know the exact makeup of the polymer when making this determination. I'm told that the same polymer is in use by many municipalities to keep potable water storage tanks leak free. I can't tell you exactly what the polymer is, because I don't know, but given the confidence with which the governmental authorities have authorized its use, I would bet it is made of a monomer that we are exposed to all the time, like fructose or something.

It also breaks down in a matter of years, and does not accumulate in the environment. The end products of breaking down are CO2, water, and base minerals like potassium. The SDS reports no need for concern with ingestion, inhalation, or contact. If in eyes, rinse with water.

End result, can I say for sure that it is 100% safe? No, I don't know exactly what it is. But given people who do know exactly what it is, and have scrutinized it, have approved it for use in human potable water systems, I'm pretty comfortable putting it in an earthen pond.