Guelph, 07 January 2025 – Brock University is the newest Knowledge and Development partner to join Bioenterprise through Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine. The addition of Brock will expand the capacity of the Engine’s growing national network of advisors, resources and mentors to support innovation, collaboration and technology for agri-food start-up businesses and entrepreneurs.
“We’re pleased to welcome Brock as the latest partner in our national agri-food innovation network and look forward to connecting their resources and expertise to opportunities in the ecosystem,” says Dave Smardon, CEO of Bioenterprise Canada. “The diversity of their research activities, ranging from plant science and ecology to data analytics and integrated engineering, make Brock well positioned to support the sector in a variety of ways.”
A new research farm where scientists from Brock, industry and other institutions will develop and test agricultural innovations impacting the grape and wine sector is under construction.
Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI), recipient of the 2024 Research and Innovation Excellence award from Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), is an internationally recognized research institute focused on understanding and solving some of the most pressing challenges faced by the Canadian grape and wine industry. And the Validation, Prototyping and Manufacturing Institute (VPMI) offers state-of-the-art technologies to support soil health, plant biology, agrochemical, and biotechnology applications.
“Brock researchers are increasingly driving innovation in Canada by working on industry-identified challenges, and our industry-facing institutes, as well as our new research farm provide the physical infrastructure and expertise to advance much-needed solutions for the agri-tech sector,” says Michelle McGinn, Brock’s Acting Vice-President of Research. “Overall, our goal is to support economic development and innovation in the agri-tech sector, and our new partnership with Bioenterprise will help us do that by making our resources available more widely across the country.”
About Bioenterprise Canada
Bioenterprise is Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine. As the country’s national agri-technology focused commercialization accelerator, Bioenterprise uses its 20 years of industry experience and its national and international network of experts, mentors, funders, advisors, researchers, government and industry partners to help small and medium-sized agri-food businesses connect, innovate and grow.
About Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive postsecondary institution with rich academic programs and world-class research activity strengthened across its 60-year history. Located at the centre of the Niagara Escarpment, Brock has more than 19,000 students in seven faculties and is home to seven research institutes and eleven research centres.
For more information:
Dave Smardon, Bioenterprise Canada, dave.smardon@bioenterprise.ca
Michelle McGinn, Brock University, vpr@brocku.ca