Funded by the Government of Alberta

Dr. Cornelia Kreplin

March 2014

Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions

Alberta Innovates Framework

ARIA Alberta Research

& Innovation Authority

Alberta Innovates:

Technology Futures

Alberta Innovates: Health

Solutions

Alberta Innovates:

Bio Solutions

Alberta Innovates: Energy &

Environment Solutions

Government of Alberta Ministries

Advanced Education & Technology

Government of Alberta

Post Secondary Institutions and Other Research Performers

Research & Innovation Organizations

Advice from Industry and Society ‘Capturing Value’ from Industry for Society

Research and Innovation Connector

Alberta Enterprise Corporation

Commercialization Service Providers

• Focus on areas where Alberta has a competitive advantage.

• A provincially-funded cohesive, accessible research and innovation system.

• World-class research to support

Government of Alberta priorities.

• Coordinates and supports investments required to solve major industry challenges.

Alberta Innovates System

Vision:

“Inspiring smart solutions in agriculture, food

and forestry for Albertans and the world”

Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions

(AI Bio)

Alberta Industry Drivers

• A need to be profitable

• Next generation economy opportunities

• Sustainable practices

• Greenhouse gas emissions

• Ecosystem adaptation to climate change

• Rural development

• Enhanced agricultural and forestry productivity

• Demographics/industry structure

• The need for innovation

• In 2012, agriculture in Alberta created $11.7

billion of value for farmers

• Food and beverage manufacturing reached

$12.1 billion in 2012

• In 2011, Alberta’s revenue from forest

manufactured goods was $4.0 billion

State of the Industry

• Sustainable Production • Sustainable agriculture and forest production

• Bioindustrial Innovation • New chemicals, materials and energy from biomass

• Food Innovation • Growth and diversification of Alberta’s food industry

• Ecosystem Services • Integrated land and environmental management

• Prion and Prion-like Neurological Disease • Effective management of prion and prion–like neurological

diseases

AI Bio Goals and Priorities

“We are at a unique moment in history as

diverse factors converge to affect the demand,

production and distribution of food over the

next 20 to 40 years.”

Sir John Beddington

Chief Scientific Advisor to HM Government

“The Future of Food and Farming”

January 24, 2011

• Goal: Growth and diversification of Alberta’s food

industry

• New food ingredients, food products, beverages and

supplements

• Innovative food processing and packaging

technologies

• Technologies, products, and processes to control

food-borne pathogens

AI Bio Business Line:

Food Innovation

1. Invest in research and innovation leading to new or improved food ingredients, food products, beverages or supplements that:

• Add value to Alberta livestock and crop commodities

• Are competitive in the domestic and global marketplace

• Respond to domestic and/or international consumer demand

• Promote wellness and/or prevent/treat chronic diseases.

.

AI Bio Business Line:

Food Innovation

2. Invest in research and development of innovative

platform, processing and packaging technologies

3. Invest in research and innovation that:

• Contribute to reduction of pathogenic E. coli,

Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., and Campylobacter

spp. in Alberta livestock, crops, foods, and beverage

products.

• Leads to development of new food safety policies,

enhanced consumer confidence and market access

AI Bio Business Line:

Food Innovation

Background Work

• Sift Everything “Alberta’s Agriculture Advantage, An

Evidence Based Guide to the Sector’s Strengths and

Innovation Options”

http://bio.albertainnovates.ca/media/56485/130604_aibio

_agriculture_final_report.pdf

• Conference Board of Canada “Alberta Unbound,

Research and Innovation Opportunities in Alberta’s Food

Sector”. http://bio.albertainnovates.ca/stratthemes/qfh/

• AI Bio internal research and analysis

AI Bio 2014 Food Innovation Program

• Analysis of domestic and global market trends, industry

drivers, and trade barriers;

• Analysis of science and technologies impacting food

innovation;

• Assessment of Alberta’s academic and industry capacity;

• Assessment of similar international and domestic

initiatives.

AI Bio 2014 Food Innovation Program

• “Accelerating Food Innovation” – 2014/15 Applied

Research and Product Development Program

• Detailed competitive/market analysis

• University of Alberta Food Science Practicum Program

• “Food Innovation – Collaborating for Success” Workshop

AI Bio 2014 Food Innovation Program

• Exploring/coordinating current automation programs

• Discovering factors that motivate innovation in Alberta’s

food manufacturing sector

• Identifying and assisting those companies who are

‘interested in and capable of” accelerating innovation

AI Bio 2014 Food Innovation Program

Funded by the Government of Alberta

Thank you!