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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
February 13, 2009
The Government of Canada and the
National Research Council of Canada
(NRC) are commemorating 60 years of plant biosciences research
in Saskatoon and the 25th anniversary of the
NRC Plant Biotechnology
Institute.
NRC's long history of plant biosciences research in Saskatoon
started with its role in the development of canola. Beginning in
the 1950s, NRC and its partners developed a new edible oil –
canola – from a plant that was known mainly for its use as an
industrial lubricant. Today, NRC and its collaborators help the
canola industry refine its products with state of the art
technologies, which contribute more than $11 billion a year to
the Canadian economy.
"The innovations flowing from Saskatoon create jobs, improve the
health and quality of life for all Canadian families, and
strengthen the economy for future generations," said Brad Trost,
Member of Parliament for Saskatoon – Humboldt, on behalf of the
Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and
Technology). "Our government is fostering significant advances
in health-care research while creating a regional environment
that will attract highly qualified research professionals and
private enterprises. Budget 2009 — Canada's Economic Action Plan
further builds on our science and technology (S&T) commitments
through one of the single-largest federal budget investments in
S&T to date. The plan announces more than $5 billion in new S&T
spending and provides an additional $200 million to NRC to
support small businesses in their efforts to undertake and
commercialize research."
Building upon its research in canola and plant biosciences, the
NRC Prairie Regional Laboratory in Saskatoon became a full NRC
institute in 1983 – the NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute
(NRC-PBI). Now a major research centre, NRC-PBI is recognized
worldwide for its research in agricultural biotechnology that
utilizes plants to produce bioproducts, healthy foods and
supplements for the benefit of environmental and human health.
"For six decades NRC has been an important part of
Saskatchewan's science and technology community," said NRC
President Dr. Pierre Coulombe. "Our Plant Biotechnology
Institute has worked with 90% of Saskatchewan's biotech
companies. NRC is proud of its many accomplishments that have
and will continue to benefit the agriculture industry and the
health of Canadians."
Saskatoon is home to the NRC Plant and Wellness technology
cluster initiative. More than 60 companies engaged in
groundbreaking agricultural biotechnology research and
development are located in this city. Saskatoon has fostered
this environment where NRC, with its research, world-class
facilities, and experience in delivering products to market, can
partner with government, university and the private sector to
develop marketable products. Saskatoon ranks as one of the most
competitive cities in the world for food processing operations.
Backgrounder
NRC in Saskatoon: 60 years ago
in 1948
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) has a rich history
of agricultural research in the Prairies, particularly in
Saskatoon. It was here that the NRC Prairie Regional Laboratory
was set up in 1948 to develop alternative uses for Western
Canadian crops to reduce waste and boost farming profits.
25 years ago in 1983: Transformation of lab into the NRC Plant
Biotechnology Institute (NRC-PBI)
In 1983, the laboratory officially became the NRC Plant
Biotechnology Institute (NRC-PBI) with a mandate to improve crop
performance and utilization for the benefit of Canadians.
Canola development in the 50s and 60s
Since the 1950s, NRC has played a key role in the development of
canola. The NRC Prairie Regional Laboratory, working with
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, transformed a minor crop with
limited use into one of Canada's most valuable assets. Before
the development of edible canola, the plant was used primarily
as an industrial lubricant as it clings to metal, even in hot
water and steam, making it ideal for steam engines and marine
use. It had little value to Canadian farmers.
By 1964, NRC researchers, teaming with scientists from
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, were able to breed new
varieties of edible canola with desirable nutritional
properties. A decade later, these new varieties of canola made
up five million acres of the crop grown in Canada.
Today's canola industry
Scientists continued to make canola a tougher crop that is more
resistant to weed killers with improved crop yield and quality,
reduced maturity time, as well as resistance to diseases. Today,
Canada is the global centre for canola science, growing more
than 13 million acres of the made-in-Canada crop, mostly in the
Prairies. The canola industry (including commercial crushers,
farmers, and biotechnology researchers) contributes more than
$11 billion a year to the Canadian economy, second only to
Canadian wheat.
About NRC-PBI: Better crops, better markets for Canada
The NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute (NRC-PBI) is a major
research centre for plant biosciences in Canada, with expertise
in genomics, metabolic pathways, gene expression, genetic
transformation, structured biology,
and natural product chemistry. NRC-PBI performs research and
innovation in plant biotechnology in partnership with key
stakeholders, to improve and diversify Canadian industry and
strengthen Canada's competitive position in the global
knowledge-based economy.
NRC-PBI research efforts are focused on building on its leading
knowledge capacity in genomics to develop plants which provide
environmentally friendly products for energy and industrial
uses. The institute is focused on utilizing the plant as a
"factory" to produce a host of products, such as bioactives with
health benefits and plant oils which can be used as a biofuel
and lubricants.
Addressing priorities: Productivity, environment, health,
sustainable energy
Researchers at the institute continue working to develop crops
with increased yield, disease resistance, insect resistance,
drought tolerance and nutrient efficiency to impact not only
farmers' productivity, but address environmental, human health,
and energy sustainability.
State of the art technology platforms
NRC-PBI has developed state of the art technology platforms in
the areas of DNA sequencing and synthesis, bioinformatics,
proteomics, hormone profiling, small molecule identification,
and plant transformation.
Opportunity for firms
NRC-PBI's world-class innovative research has helped attract new
companies to Saskatoon. The institute provides these companies
with state of the art laboratory and research infrastructure to
commercialize products and the chance to collaborate with
researchers through its Industrial Partnership Facility, which
opened in 2003.
Industry Partnership Facilities (IPFs) are NRC's technology
innovation incubators. They accommodate and provide assistance
to private companies with commercial potential with the goal for
Canadians to benefit from the jobs, products and services these
companies will generate in future.
BioAccess Commercialization Centre
In 2006, NRC helped to open the BioAccess Commercialization
Centre. This centre offers innovative firms in the Western
Canada's nutraceutical, functional food and natural health
product industry the advice, knowledge and resources they need
for successful commercialization.
NRC in partnership
NRC-PBI has partnerships with universities, government
researchers, and industry to undertake leading edge research and
product development. These partnerships build powerful networks
to undertake scientific research and technology
commercialization. For example, NRC-PBI and the University of
Alberta are co-leaders in a genomics project involving
comprehensive functional genomics of Brassica seed quality. The
project focuses on the development of seed with increased oil
content, yellow seed coat color and reduction of fiber and
anti-nutritional compounds to improve canola meal quality.
NRC Cluster: Plants for health and wellness
Saskatoon's agricultural biotechnology cluster has evolved from
a small industrial community to a major global player providing
more than 1,100 local jobs. NRC's Saskatoon-based Plants for
Health and Wellness technology cluster initiative is a
world-leading example of how visionary thinking and careful
planning can turn NRC-funded research into marketable products
backed by significant private sector investment in research,
development and commercialization. The cluster is a
globally-recognized contributor to science and technology for
health and wellness.
Cluster facts at a glance
The cluster accounts for 30 percent of Canada's ag-biotech
industry – 60 companies with annual sales of close to $1
billion.
30 companies in the nutraceutical and functional food sectors
generate annual revenues of nearly $60 million.
The cluster accounted for $120 million in genomics investments
between 2001 and 2007.
1,100 people work in the cluster, including 400 research and
technology professionals.
The cluster is focused on capturing more of a global
nutraceutical market already worth $172 million.
Connecting vital players
As the nucleus for Saskatoon's cluster activities, NRC has
linked key partners around critical common goals. NRC in
Saskatoon leverages its funding by attracting $30 million of
investments from its private and public partners. These include
industry, government and university which collaborate and
develop groundbreaking marketable products and processes. The
University of Saskatchewan, an important partner in the cluster,
continues to generate a constant flow of skilled people –
expanding the people advantage this cluster already enjoys.
About overall NRC Technology Cluster Initiatives
The National Research Council (NRC) is meeting the Government of
Canada challenge to mobilize science and technology to Canada's
advantage. NRC is partnering with industry, universities and all
levels of government to build dynamic technology clusters in
communities across the country. By fostering world-class R&D
with a clear focus on generating economic opportunities for
Canadian communities, NRC research facilities and skilled people
are accelerating community-led innovation. The results: new
knowledge, new skills, new partnerships and new business
opportunities focused on the priorities of Canadians and people
around the world – from innovations and technologies that
support health and wellness to new ideas in energy,
transportation, environmental and security improvements. |
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