A new article in the National Post demonstrates how Canadian innovators are helping Canada’s agri-food industry meet the growing global demand for natural and sustainable products.

In the glow of COP28, Canadian innovators are showing the power of natural products and technologies to provide solutions to some of today’s biggest problems – and to future-proof against those on the horizon. An article in the National Post showcases the many ways bio-based innovation is helping to improve productivity, create economic opportunity, maximize quality, and optimize resources. JUMP TO THE ARTICLE

Citing examples from eight Canadian companies, the feature looks at the many ways bio-based innovation can be used to develop game-changing products both for and from the agri-food industry, such as natural soil additives that help improve yields, and sustainable textiles produced from hemp. In each of these areas, Canadian natural product innovation helps to de-risk Canada’s agri-food industry, ensuring its strength and viability to serve Canada and the world for generations to come.

“NPC is so proud of the diverse array of natural product innovations found across the country,” says Shelley King, CEO, Natural Products Canada. “The beneficial links to Canada’s agri-food industry can be found all through the value chain.”

The article explains how bio-based solutions help produce more products and create unique ‘made in Canada’ opportunities for Canadian farmers and founders, while protecting our natural resources like soil and water.

“Canada has always been the bread basket of the world, now we have the potential to extend that role to help meet the $1-trillion demand for sustainable products that are better for people, animals and the planet,” says King.

Although NPC works with hundreds of game-changing innovators across the country, the following companies are mentioned in the article:

• Bast Fibre Tech – Relying on regenerative farming methods and patented technology to turn hemp into sustainable clothing, textiles and more.
• BioSun – Biofungicides and biostimulants that improve the health of our ecosystems while helping farmers increase yields.
• Crush Dynamics – Specialty ingredients derived from the wine industry that help food formulators reduce sugar and salt by as much as 50%.
• Flaura, cuir vegetal – Sustainable alternatives to leather derived from waste from the apple industry.
• Index Biosystems – Inventors of BioTags, microscopic barcodes for food system risk mitigation and advanced traceability, from farm to fork.
• Novobind – A unique solution that tackles disease in animals, as well as teh issue of antimicrobial resistance.
• Prairie Fava – North America’s only glyphosphate-free, low-vicine fava bean ingredients to serve the growing demand for plant-based foods.
• Sunnydale Foods – State of the art manufacturing facilities that increase market opportunities for Canadian-grown, plant-based products.

Read the article.

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