Natural Products Canada (NPC) is a powerful catalyst for game-changing innovation aligned with the massive opportunities in the bioeconomy. As the world demands cleaner, greener, healthier solutions, Canadian innovators are stepping up with game-changing products and technologies that can be applied across a broad range of industries.

NPC exists to drive these innovations to market. We are investors, advisors, connectors, facilitators, and champions. But above all, we are a trusted partner to our members – to the Canadian founders we help to succeed, and to the investors, industry leaders and many others who see the tremendous opportunity in the bioeconomy.

NPC characterizes ‘natural products’ as natural and bio-based innovation that aligns with the global bioeconomy. Inspired by the tremendous power of nature, we are focused on biologically-based innovation that is better for people, animals and the planet. 
Our definition is comprised of three things:

Biologically-based: A key aspect of the product/solution harnesses or leverages a biological molecule. The innovation can be applied to nearly every industry, and examples range from extracting active plant molecules for nutritional supplements, to converting food waste into bioplastics, to harnessing microbes to produce safer and more sustainable industrial chemicals. 

Innovation: NPC exists to bring game-changing solutions to the world’s big problems. We’re seeking new, different, improved products or processes that are not easily copied, and that bring true potential for change. We’re asking questions like: Is it measurably better than the current solution? Does it have the potential to work at the capacity needed to serve a market in a cost-competitive way? And is there a keen customer willing/waiting to buy it?

Better for people, animals and the planet: The global bioeconomy continues to grow because of an escalating need to find and implement new solutions to the way we produce things. NPC is focused on bio-based solutions that help remove and replace harmful substances from our food, soil, and oceans. The products and solutions we support provide healthier or more sustainable options – and often both at the same time. 

You can find many examples of the types of companies, products and solutions we support by visiting our Game Changers report.

The bioeconomy is a massive and growing $4-trillion dollar segment of the global economy. It is multifaceted and diverse, but at its core you’ll find natural substances (such as agriculture or forestry material) or organisms (such as microbes or yeast).  

The bioeconomy includes economic activities related to the creation, advancement, manufacture, and application of bio-based products, processes, and biotechnology-related intellectual property. It can use resources from various sectors, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture, organic waste, and aquatic biomass – areas that Canada has in abundance. 

The bioeconomy can also use a plethora of technologies and disciplines including biology, computer science, engineering, and much more – another rich area for Canada given its global reputation for solid research and development.

Broadly speaking, the bioeconomy spans four very large sub-sectors: bio-health, bio-energy, bio-agriculture (agri-bio), and bio-industrial (chemicals and materials). Each of these have many subsections, creating enormous market opportunity. You’ll see examples of many of these in our Game Changers report and throughout our membership.

The significant growth of the bioeconomy comes from the increased interest in creating more sustainable or “green” products and production methods that are healthier for consumers and the environment. Global industry leaders (Nestle, Walmart, Pepsi, to name a few) and government leaders have set ambitious targets to replace harmful ingredients, products and processes. The bioeconomy is a key way to meet these targets.

Our definition of natural products can be applied to nearly every industry – from sustainable materials and chemicals for the automotive sector, to bio-based approaches to soil and crop health, and food and ingredients.

We divide this broad array of possibility into five main areas:

• Agriculture, Animal and Ag-Tech
  • Natural and bio-based solutions create healthy and abundant crops, feed ingredients that are more sustainable and better for animals, and pet food and treats to keep our furry friends healthy and happy.
• Bioequivalents, Cleantech and Green-Tech
  • Bio-based alternatives can replace ingredients and processes that are hard on the planet. The potential is practically limitless! It includes things like  industrial resins, 
• Food, Nutrition and Food-Tech
  • Natural products meet the growing demand for healthy, secure, and sustainable food. It includes a broad range of solutions including alternative protein, food production and preservation technologies, natural health products, functional ingredients, and much more.
• Household and Personal Care
  • What we put on our bodies and in our homes can have a big impact on our health and the environment. Natural and bio-based alternatives can efficiently replace harsh chemicals in skincare, cosmetics, hygiene, and cleaning products.
• Packaging, Apparel and Biomaterials
  • Natural and bio-based material can replace the need for plastics and other petroleum-based ingredients in all sorts of products. Examples include bioplastics, vegan leather made from plants, packaging, construction materials and much more.

You can find dozens of examples of the solutions we are focused on and the industries they serve by visiting our Start-Ups section.

NPC acts like a strategic angel investor to help early-stage Canadian founders access the advice, capital, and connections they need to meet their full commercial potential. 

We’ve designed a powerful platform for our members that includes: high-impact business and technical advice, capital programs, promotional opportunities, strategic networking, and curated introductions. 

This unique and comprehensive approach is incremental and intuitive. It allows us to gain in-depth insights into each technology and company, identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and determine next steps.