Key Takeaways:
- National Roundtable Initiative: Bioenterprise Canada has initiated a series of provincial and regional roundtables to enhance Canada’s agri-food sector.
- Focus on Barriers: The initiative aims to identify and address barriers preventing the commercialization of agri-food innovations.
- Collaborative Effort: Bennett Jones LLP, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, and Farm Credit Canada support the project.
- Expected Outcomes: The project will produce an innovation ecosystem roadmap, insights report, policy recommendations, and a strategic action plan.
Bioenterprise Canada Aims To Enhance Canada’s Agri-Food Sector
Bioenterprise Canada has embarked on a groundbreaking national roundtable series designed to harness Canada’s agri-food potential on the global stage. The initiative commenced in Calgary on April 29, with the first of seven provincial and regional roundtables aimed at identifying and understanding the obstacles that hinder Canadian food-tech and agri-tech entrepreneurs from successfully commercializing their innovations.
Addressing Regional and National Challenges
Bioenterprise Canada recognizes the importance of understanding the unique challenges across different regions, provinces, and territories. “We believe the key to closing the agri-food innovation gap lies in understanding the challenges that exist regionally, provincially and in the territories so that we can develop a national strategy to address these barriers while also expanding successful regional programs and initiatives,” stated Dave Smardon, CEO of Bioenterprise Canada.
Canada’s Innovation Gap
Despite Canada ranking ninth globally in agricultural research spending, the country lags in translating that research into marketable innovations, placing 21st in the world. This discrepancy underscores the necessity of initiatives like Bioenterprise Canada’s roundtable series, which aims to bridge this gap by fostering a more cohesive and collaborative national agri-food innovation environment.
Collaborative Efforts for National Strategy
Bioenterprise, with support from partners such as Bennett Jones LLP, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, and Farm Credit Canada, is spearheading efforts to create a more comprehensive national strategy for agri-food innovation. The project’s objectives include analyzing and connecting the intricate web of organizations within each region’s agri-food sector, identifying gaps in the ecosystem, and providing recommendations to enhance Canada’s global competitiveness in the agri-food sector.
Project Goals and Expected Outcomes
The initiative will focus on several key areas:
- Analyzing Regional Ecosystems: Understanding each region’s specific services and interactions to identify ecosystem gaps.
- Recommendations for Practical Solutions: Ensuring Canada’s research strengths are effectively converted into marketable solutions.
- Promoting Collaboration: Encouraging the open sharing of knowledge, resources, and best practices among commercialization enablers.
- Convene Industry Leaders: Engaging industry leaders to address barriers to innovation and inform policies and strategies.
“Canada’s potential to become a global agri-food superpower is rooted in its abundance of natural resources, leading research institutions, and a strong focus on sustainable agricultural practices,” said Lorelei Graham, Partner and Head of the Agribusiness Industry Team at Bennett Jones.
Comprehensive Regional Engagement
Following the roundtables in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, the initiative will culminate in an agri-food innovation summit in Ottawa this fall. This event will gather stakeholders to consolidate findings and formulate actionable strategies.
Anticipated Project Deliverables
The roundtable series is expected to produce:
- Innovation Ecosystem Roadmap: Detailing key resources and stakeholders in each region.
- Comprehensive Insights Report: Summarizing the challenges and opportunities identified during the roundtables.
- Policy Recommendations: To streamline the commercialization process and reduce regulatory barriers.
- Strategic Action Plan: For improved collaboration between industry, government, academia, and other stakeholders.
- Regional Best Practices: Case studies and practices that can be implemented nationally.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Bennett Jones LLP, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, and Farm Credit Canada provide funding for the project, ensuring a robust support system for this transformative initiative.
Image provided by Bioenterprise Canada
