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Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan researchers and companies are using biotechnology to grow hardier and more productive crops, understand how infectious diseases work, and develop cleaner sources of energy from grains, oilseeds and forest waste. Saskatchewan:

Hosts approximately 30% of Canada’s activities in agricultural biotechnology
Invested over $120 million in genomics research and infrastructure
Has vast renewable resources in Agriculture and Forestry with nearly half (44 %) of Canada’s farmland. Half the province (80 million acres) is covered by forest
Has two commercially active biodiesel additive companies. Around 30% of Canada’s biofuels (350 million litres per annum) are produced in Saskatchewan
Has close to 500 biotech products approved or on the market

The science cluster in Saskatchewan encompasses two university campuses, three research parks, and provincially and nationally funded research institutions and technical training centres. These provide a solid foundation for high level research in the life sciences. Companies have access to world-class infrastructure facilities - and the expertise that comes with it.

Organizations key to the infrastructure in the cluster include:

Innovation Place operates three research parks in Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert housing over 172 organizations employing almost 4600 people. Innovation Place Saskatoon is one of the most successful university-related research parks in North America.
The University of Saskatchewan, with seven life-science colleges – including the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, and the College of Engineering, which is very active in the biofuels research sector – along with numerous centres devoted to research.
Two federal government labs located on the U of S campus create synergies and add expertise to the cluster:
- Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada – Saskatoon Research Centre, conducts research on Prairie crops to support the agri-food industry and is a major location for ag-biotech R&D.
- The National Research Council – Plant Biotechnology Institute (NRC‐PBI) focuses on developing plant biotechnology and new plant products and processes.
The Canadian Light Source (CLS) is the only synchrotron in Canada, and a valuable tool for researchers to view biological material at the atomic level.
The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre offers expertise in product development, quality assurance and quality control, food safety training, interim processing, and business and market development.
POS Bio-Sciences offers contract, applied R&D and small-scale toll processing in extraction, fractionation, purification, and modification of bioproducts.
Innovation Place Bio-Processing Centre provides custom toll processing on a contract basis for the nutraceutical, cosmetic and agri-food industries.
Saskatchewan Research Council serves a variety of industries. SRC’s Analytical Labs and Facilities include GenServe Laboratories for genomic testing, a Biofuels Test Centre and a Fermentation Pilot Plant.
Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) provides R&D services in crop processing with a focus on machinery design and fabrication, as well as post-harvest handling and storage, primary processing, feeds ingredient processing and oilseed processing.
Genome Prairie, the leading organization for support and management of large-scale genomics research projects in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, is headquartered in Saskatoon.
The International Vaccine Centre Vaccine Infectious Disease Organization is under construction at VIDO (Vaccine & Infectious Disease Organization). Scheduled to open in 2011, InterVac is a level 3 containment centre for vaccine research and development.
In Regina, the University and Innovation Place have major research strengths in informatics, energy, the environment and health.

In addition, diverse products and expertise is provided by Saskatchewan private sector companies, too numerous to list here.

Saskatchewan researchers are busy developing hardy crops, more nutritious food and better feeds, giving producers more options.
Some examples:

Saskatchewan is Canada’s largest producer of wheat, oats, flax, and barley and canola.
Many wheat varieties were developed here, with better disease resistance and hardy enough to handle our climate.
Canola was developed in Saskatoon at Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada. Saskatoon continues to be the centre for canola research, with 75% of Canada’s canola research here, with 48% of Canada’s canola production in Saskatchewan.
Canada is the world’s largest exporter of flax (mainly for oil but also for fibre), and Saskatchewan is the biggest producer of all the provinces.
Canada is the world’s leading lentil, pea and chickpea exporter and Saskatchewan is the heart of Canada’s pulse industry. 99% of Canadian lentils, 80% of pea crop, and 99% of the Canadian chickpea crop.
Almost 90 percent of Canadian mustard production comes from Saskatchewan.
Canada is also a major exporter of malting barley. Harrington barley was developed here and has become a world standard for malting barley quality.
Other crops include oats, rye, triticale, sunflower and canary seed. Work is also being done on camelina, a hardy plant with high oil content that has potential in many areas, from fuels to plastics, cosmetics and agriculture feeds.
The Crop Development Centre at the U of S has released nearly 300 commercial crop varieties since it was created in 1971. As of 2009, 69 varieties of pulses have been introduced and become available to growers.

The health sector is also being affected by advances in biotechnology. Researchers are exploring the effects of functional foods on human health and developing plant-made pharmaceuticals. Resourceful entrepreneurs are using locally grown crops, exploring the potential of native plant species.
Companies active in the functional food ingredients market supply oat ingredients, pulses, sour cherry, roasted flaxseed, essential fatty acids, fenugreek gum, hempseed products, pea starch, fibre and protein, micronized pulses and grains, and plant and animal extracts. Saskatchewan has become a major player in the areas of vaccines and genomics research, and bio-diagnostic tools are being developed as less invasive options for medical care.

Opportunities in renewable resources

The growth and production of oilseed crops dedicated to producing lubricants, plastics, polymers, and specialty fuel offers opportunities for Saskatchewan companies already working in this area; in the area of ‘environmental biotechnology’ or the use of environmentally friendly bioprocesses in the petroleum and mining sectors – for example, technology to reduce greenhouse gas, or the development of plants that can help with the remediation of soil. For example, one of Genome Prairie’s current projects is exploring the use of microbial technology to improve the recovery of oil from old, dormant, oil wells.

Read more about National Biotech Week in Saskatchewan.
Download the full PDF here.

Saskatchewan

Opportunities in renewable resources

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