Agricultural Biotechnology in Saskatchewan: Strong Roots and Prolific Shoots

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By Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, with files from Ag-West Bio Inc

Within Canada's bio-economy, Saskatchewan reigns as the undisputed leader in agricultural biotechnology. The Saskatoon-based cluster has achieved international status on par with many of its larger competitors. Its expertise includes biofuels and bioproducts, crop research and nutrition, health and wellness. Its accomplishments range from world-leading supplier of essential fatty acids to a unique proprietary metabolic analysis technology.

The strength of Saskatchewan's bio-industry is supported by an array of savvy investments in contract research infrastructure, including Canada's flagship research facility - the Canadian Light Source synchrotron - a massive tool for examining the minutest particles of life.

In the last decade, the number of life sciences companies in Saskatchewan tripled from 19 to 57 and employment in the field more than doubled. This momentum is in sync with the province's stellar economic growth - an accomplishment that is not going unnoticed by the nation's analysts. A senior economist with Canada's largest bank expects Saskatchewan to outperform the Canadian national average this year and next. He is just one in a crowd of industry analysts forecasting sustained increased growth for the province. Whether it's GDP or PMP (gross domestic product or plant-made pharmaceuticals), this province is in the business of growing.
     
Saskatchewan is home to 44% of Canada's arable land and one-third of the country's agricultural bio-industry. Saskatchewan people have been thinking about, and exploring, biotechnology and life sciences since before the terms were even coined.

Since 1989, Ag-West Bio Inc. has been at the helm of initiating, promoting and supporting the growth of Saskatchewan's agricultural bio-industries, including the commercialization of food and non-food related technologies. The non-profit organization's investments have resulted in approximately $760 million directed toward Saskatchewan’s GDP. Its president, Ashley O'Sullivan, knows only too well that maintaining leader status in an increasingly competitive global market is difficult even for the most powerful of nations.

"We are in a fierce global race to create innovative products using biological systems. Luckily, Saskatchewan has many advantages in certain bio-based industries. We have a firm focus on biofuels and bioproducts from renewable sources, as well as on products directed at health and wellness that will continue to bring in new wealth," O'Sullivan said.

Philom Bios Inc. was one of the first biotech companies in Saskatchewan when it incorporated in 1980. Today, it is a world leader in developing, producing and marketing inoculants. The naturally occurring soil fungus, Penicillium bilaii, provides the foundation for Philom Bios' success as the only company in the world that offers time-tested and proven phosphate efficiency inoculants.

"Inoculants, as commonly understood, are live micro-organisms which, when added to the soil, or applied to the seed, can deliver benefits to plants such as improved access to important nutrients like phosphorous and nitrogen," explains company president Calvin Sonntag.

Sonntag says the beauty of the science behind the company's products is that it can improve the efficiency of farmers' fertility programs, and help minimize the environmental footprint, including the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2005 and 2006, Philom Bios was recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies (www.canadas50best.com). Business as usual that year included opening a 32,000-square-metre production lab and office in Saskatoon, and launching a joint venture with Grains Research and Development Corporation of Australia.

"Several years ago, we identified the major geographies and crops that hold the greatest potential for our technologies, both current and prospective. Australia is a good match given their soils, cropping practices and endemic challenges."

"In addition to bringing our technologies to Australian growers, the venture creates a two-way flow of world-leading microbial research and technology between the Australian research community and Saskatchewan," Sonntag said.

Saskatchewan's economy, more than any other Canadian province, is driven by exports with manufactured goods and natural recources topping the list. International relationship building is an art form that Saskatchewan has always nurtured. As a result, doors have opened for the province in the growing agricultural biotechnology industry of India, a destination to which Saskatchewan exports more products than does any other Canadian province.

Partnering with India
In India, 30 to 50% of the crops grown never reach the consumer because of insects, disease or rot and decay in the field. As the country of over one billion people evolves into a major world economy (expected to be fourth largest economy by 2025), its governments at all levels recognize the value of agricultural biotechnology and have committed to investing in new research infrastructure. Saskatchewan, a province of less than one million, has an active relationship within many regions of India and is collaborating on initiatives that will help feed India's growing population and result in mutually beneficial programs.

A number of agreements have already been signed that identify opportunities for collaboration on crop, animal and environmental biotechnology, scientific exchanges, the commercial development of new products, bioprocessing, university faculty development and more.

The State of Punjab is interested in using the Saskatoon-based cluster model that includes the University of Saskatchewan, Innovation Place and government laboratories. Ag-West Bio Inc., NRC-PBI, the University of Saskatchewan and the POS Pilot Plant have been involved with the Indian Department of Biotechnology in the planning of a new industry park, a national institute of biotechnology, a bio-processing unit similar to the POS Pilot Plant based in the Punjab. UMA Engineering in Saskatoon has provided management expertise to help advance the Indian research park's conceptual status and, as a result of work by the Deloitte and Touche office in Saskatoon, the company was also contracted to do extensive work around the development of the Punjab research park.

Dr. Ashley O'Sullivan president and CEO of Ag-West Bio said "India is very interested in seeing more rapid development and more successful commercialization of technologies developed at its publicly funded research institutions. The Saskatoon ag-biotech cluster is a globally leading model and the ongoing collaboration provides significant new science and business opportunities for Saskatchewan and the Punjab."

Innovation Place Research Park, adjacent to the University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Light Source, is one of North America's most advanced research parks for agriculture, pharmaceuticals and the environment. Unique to the cluster is the Bio-Processing Centre, or BPC.

"The BPC helps emerging and mature companies further develop products based on active ingredients extracted from plant materials," said Austin Beggs, director of corporate relations at Innovation Place. "These products are used in nutraceuticals, functional foods, personal health care and bio industrial products sold in markets around the world."

Saskatchewan's POS Pilot Plant also offers custom processing services. Ashraf Abdellatif of Canagra Technologies has worked closely with the POS Pilot Plant on developing a pomegranate extract for use in nutraceutical and functional food applications. The fruit possesses antioxidant properties because of its flavonoids and ellagic acid. Studies suggest that these properties are useful in treating cardiovascular conditions and certain kinds of cancers. Pomegranates have also been identified as a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy.

To capture the potential of pomegranates for nutraceutical applications, Abdellatif worked with POS Pilot Plant. Together, they developed and processed the pomegranate extract on a lab scale. They prepared prototype samples, and undertook preliminary pilot plant scale processes. The final product is a powdered extract that is available in four formats developed to suit different functional applications.

A Collaborative Sector
The growing community of ag biotech startups in Saskatchewan is a testament to the province's strong and varied research infrastructure. Earlier this year, the Conference Board of Canada interviewed 100 leaders in Saskatchewan's life sciences sector to help determine where the province should channel its energies. There was no question among the people interviewed that the diversity of Saskatchewan's research capabilities is what enables very complex multidisciplinary projects to take place.

Malcolm Devine says the success of Performance Plants Inc. is linked to a multidisciplinary approach to science. Devine is in charge of development and commercialization for Canada's largest plant biotechnology company, working on optimizing crop performance and productivity. Performance Plants focuses on gene discovery and evaluation, leading to the development of agronomically important plant traits. Its crop development activities are based in Saskatoon.

Recently, Performance Plants has made great strides modifying a plant's own genes to develop what it refers to as Yield Protection Technology, enhancing the plant's resistance to drought. The company's multidisciplinary approach includes the work of molecular biologists, tissue culture specialists, plant physiologists and agronomists - people with expertise ranging all the way from early stage lab research to field evaluation.

"A huge advantage for our operations in Saskatchewan is access to a diverse pool of highly skilled personnel, from laboratory technicians to senior scientists. Translating laboratory discoveries into products takes a wide array of skills, and here in Saskatchewan we are fortunate to have this talent pool on our doorstep."

The synergy and satisfaction that comes from "working together" is a strong Saskatchewan trait - a sort of barn raising approach to complex biotechnology.

It is a quality that appeals to bright people whose careers are built on the evolution of ideas. Susan Gorges felt its pull from the United States. She has recently returned to Saskatchewan as the chief executive officer of a new Regina-based non-profit organization, SpringBoard West Innovations Inc. SpringBoard's mandate is to work with researchers on commercializing their technologies.

Gorges moved from New Mexico where she worked with the Los Alamos National Laboratory Technology Transfer Division.

"Saskatchewan has all the elements in place to make great things happen: a collaborative culture of ingenious people attacking and solving any problem thrown their way," Gorges said. "Entrepreneurs around the world are fearless problem solvers. The 'secret sauce' here in Saskatchewan is the collaborative culture.”


Contract Research Services

Canadian Light Source Inc. (CLS) - Canada's first and only synchrotron is one of the most powerful research tools in North America for potential breakthroughs in a host of fields including biotechnology.

Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) - VIDO has developed five world first animal vaccines and holds patents on 60 more. VIDO's expertise extends to human disease since more than 75% of new diseases found in humans originate in animals. Demand for VIDO's research is growing as new human diseases emerge (such as SARS, BSE or Mad Cow, West Nile, AIDS and Hepatitis C).

The success of VIDO is reinforced by the ongoing development of its $110-million International Vaccine Centre that will focus on vaccine development for both animal and human pathogens. The centre will be the first of its kind in the world and will include a biosafety Level 3 high-containment testing facility for large animals.

National Research Council Plant Biotechnology Institute (NRC-PBI) - The key research areas include crops for enhanced human health, cell technologies, lipid biotechnology, molecular and development genetics, plant natural products and protein research.

University of Saskatchewan - The University of Saskatchewan is one of two universities in Canada with a metabolic unit designed to conduct clinical trials for food products. It also has the largest and most sophisticated aquatic toxicology research facility in Canada. The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Toxicology at the U of S is the fastest growing toxicology program in Canada.

Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) - SRC's Biofuels Test Centre opened last fall. The SRC has designed a number of vehicles that are world firsts in alternative energy. One such vehicle is a tractor fuelled solely by hydrated ethanol, which has caught the attention of government and tractor manufacturers in India. Another SRC prototype is a modified GM truck that is fuelled on a combination of diesel and hydrated ethanol.

POS Pilot Plant - POS Pilot Plant specializes in extraction, fractionation, purification and modification of bio-based materials. It has played an instrumental role in a range of projects including the production of a new lubricant with Diesel Services Group, the extraction of the essential nutraceuticals from pomegranates with Canagra Technologies, and the development of new processes with Emerald Seed Products that will yield unique compounds from fenugreek (one of the world's oldest medicinal herbs) and used in over 30 countries to target diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity.