Key Takeaways:
- The Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP) has invested in ERGO Bioscience, an Argentina-based biotech company, advancing precision fermentation in Saskatchewan.
- ERGO specializes in producing complex animal proteins through plant cell cultivation for plant-based foods, using fewer resources than traditional agriculture.
- The investment will support ERGO’s expansion into North America, with a new facility planned in Saskatoon.
- Saskatchewan’s innovation ecosystem and GAAP’s Navigate program were instrumental in ERGO’s decision to expand to Canada.
GAAP’s Investment in Precision Fermentation
The Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP) recently announced an undisclosed investment in ERGO Bioscience (ERGO), an innovative biotech startup from Argentina that utilizes precision fermentation to produce animal proteins for plant-based meat and dairy alternatives. This funding positions Saskatchewan as a leader in precision fermentation, supporting GAAP’s goal to transform food production through cutting-edge technology.
ERGO’s North American Expansion
GAAP’s investment will enable ERGO to set up operations in Saskatoon, leveraging Saskatchewan’s established research and development infrastructure. ERGO’s precision fermentation technology can produce high-value compounds, minimizing land and water use, which aligns with GAAP’s focus on sustainability and resource efficiency. ERGO plans to use GAAP’s Saskatoon labs to advance its R&D capabilities, a move that aligns with the province’s strategy to expand its agri-food sector.
Success Through the Navigate Program
The investment follows ERGO’s successful participation in GAAP’s Navigate program in 2023, a collaboration supported by Ag-West Bio, which offers customized support to international companies exploring opportunities in Saskatchewan. ERGO’s CEO, Alejandro Barbarini, noted that the program provided valuable networking and insights into the region’s agri-tech landscape. “This investment marks the opening of our offices and R&D capabilities in Canada. Saskatoon is a thriving ecosystem of institutions and corporations that foster the development of our technology,” Barbarini shared.
Comments from GAAP Leadership
GAAP CEO Jay Robinson emphasized that ERGO’s addition to the GAAP portfolio reinforces Saskatchewan’s position as a hub for food technology innovation. “ERGO is a great example of how GAAP’s programming serves as a foreign direct investment vehicle, harnessing the strengths of Saskatchewan and Canada and matching them with our sector-specific expertise,” Robinson said.
This partnership, backed by leaders like Ag-West Bio and Innovation Saskatchewan, reflects GAAP’s commitment to advancing sustainable agri-food solutions. Ag-West Bio CEO Karen Churchill highlighted that Saskatchewan’s world-class research cluster often surprises newcomers, adding that “Navigate can help change that.”
Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership Latest News
Saskatchewan’s GAAP Invests in Proxima Research and Development – Enhancing Canadian Agri-Food Sector (2024/01/16)
Saskatchewan’s Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP) recently completed an investment round at Proxima Research and Development. According to the company, this investment signifies a strategic effort to strengthen the Canadian agriculture sector, although the financial details of the investment have not been disclosed. Proxima Research and Development has developed proprietary technology focusing on isolating, characterizing, and engineering microbes. These technologies have applications in various sectors, including agriculture, food, and pharmaceuticals. Proxima offers both client-specific microbial solutions and develops its technological solutions.
Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership Leads Investment in BioScout (2023/05/30)
BioScout, an Australian agricultural technology company, has received funding from the Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP) and other investors to expand into North America. The investment will help BioScout grow in Australia and establish a presence in Canada. BioScout’s technology detects fungal crop disease weeks before it affects crop yields, helping farmers minimize their use of fungicides and adopt sustainable farming practices. GAAP has expressed its excitement about working with BioScout and the potential benefits for farmers in North America.
Read more here.