New partnership will drive Canadian agri-food innovation commercialization 

Bioenterprise Canada welcomes Bennett Jones as national partner

Posted: Mar 22, 2024

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Guelph ON, 22 March 2024 – Bennett Jones has joined Bioenterprise Canada as a National Partner. The leading national law firm and Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support commercialization opportunities for start-ups and growth-oriented companies in Canada’s food and agri-tech innovation sector.

The MOU will enable Bioenterprise partners, members and service providers to tap into the depth of Bennett Jones’ expertise in a variety of fields, including financing, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, regulatory concerns, trade mandates, intellectual property (IP) matters, integrating sustainability solutions and more. 

“It’s a tremendous benefit to our national food and agri-tech innovation network to have the knowledge and resources of the Bennett Jones team at our disposal,” says Dave Smardon, CEO, Bioenterprise Canada. “Bennett Jones is a well-respected national firm with deep roots in the agri-food sector, and we look forward to the support they will be able to provide start-ups and growth-oriented companies as we collaborate to meet their growth goals through innovation.”  

Bennett Jones has connections to the food and agribusiness sector that weave through the entire Canadian value chain, supporting and advising businesses of all shapes and sizes. This includes major conglomerates scaling operations to meet surging global food demand, cutting-edge innovators rewriting the future of the industry, and dynamic companies navigating the increased pace of litigation and regulatory scrutiny. The new partnership will drive advancements throughout the agricultural sector with Bennett Jones providing essential corporate, commercial and IP legal services to a wide variety of start-up and scaling companies across Canada. 

“We are thrilled to join Bioenterprise’s community of entrepreneurs, researchers, accelerators and partners. Our firm wholeheartedly embraces the Bioenterprise commitment to driving innovation across Canada in the agri-tech and food industry,” says Lorelei Graham, Partner and Head of the Agribusiness Industry Team at Bennett Jones. “Transforming cutting-edge innovations into commercial success stories, especially in the agricultural sector, requires sound legal and strategic advice. Bennett Jones offers guidance at every stage of the innovation journey, empowering businesses of all sizes to expand their market presence and solidify their position as agribusiness leaders.”

About Bioenterprise Canada

Bioenterprise is Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, a national agri-technology focused commercialization accelerator. Bioenterprise uses its more than 20 years of industry experience and a global network of experts, mentors, funders, researchers, and industry partners to help small and medium-sized agri-food businesses connect, innovate and grow. 

About Bennett Jones
Bennett Jones LLP is an internationally recognized Canadian law firm trusted by clients in Canada and around the world to solve their most complex legal matters. With 500 lawyers and business advisors in Canadian and international offices, the firm works alongside some of the largest and most successful corporations in Canada. Its team is known for their ability to deliver an outstanding client experience, a deep knowledge of their clients’ businesses and industries, and a history of building long-lasting client relationships.

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For more information: 

Dave Smardon, Bioenterprise Canada
dave.smardon@bioenterprise.ca or (519) 821-2960

Karsten Sturmay, Bennett Jones
sturmayk@bennettjones.com or (780) 917-5235


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