New Centre of Excellence will add value to Saskatchewan’s agriculture, food and health sectors
Ag-West Bio welcomes the creation of Natural Products Canada Inc.(NPC), the nation’s newest Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research.
The Government of Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence has committed $14 million over five years to fund NPC’s efforts to establish Canada as a global leader in the development and commercialization of natural products.
“I welcome Ag-West Bio as a founding member of NPC,” said Shelley King, Chief Executive Officer, Natural Products Canada Inc. “Ag-West Bio and the Saskatchewan team have added significant value to NPC.”
Canada’s four regional NPC nodes involve Ag-West Bio as NPC West, the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO) as NPC Ontario, the Institute for Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF) as NPC Quebec, and the Prince Edward Island BioAlliance as NPC Atlantic.
“This new Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research – Natural Products Canada – is an important step in the development of a range of innovative, science-based products for the benefit of our producers and consumers,” says Wilf Keller, president and CEO of Ag-West Bio. “We are pleased to represent Western Canada in this initiative and would like to acknowledge and thank our local partners for their invaluable support.”
Contribution partners from Saskatchewan include Ag-West Bio, Bioriginal, Innovation Saskatchewan, Novozymes, POS Bio-Sciences, Saskatchewan Research Council, and the University of Saskatchewan. These organizations have committed their support for this initiative.
Top: Dr. Wilf Keller (Ag-West Bio) announces the launch of NPC West in Saskatoon, SK
Bottom: The federal announcement was held in Charlottetown, PEI
From left to right: Shelley King (CEO of Natural Products Canada) with Dr. Bettina Hamelin (NSERC and NCE), Dr. Lambert Busque (CECR), Premier MacLauchlan, Minister Bains, Minister MacAulay, MP Sean Casey, and Rory Francis (PEI BioAlliance).
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