Value-Added Stakeholders

The Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre (Food Centre) is a non-profit organization that provides expertise and resources to assist agri-businesses in bringing food innovations to commercialization for domestic and/or international markets. The Food Centre has capacities in unique food process development, interim processing and incubation, pulse innovation, extrusion, food safety training and pathfinding. The Food Centre’s processing facilities are recognized by both the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, and they are equipped with innovative technologies to manufacture a variety of food products.

The Food Centre is instrumental in helping numerous agri-businesses develop and showcase food products using ingredients derived from Saskatchewan-grown commodities. The expansion of the Food Centre with the construction of the new facility, the Agri-Food Innovation Centre in Saskatoon, strengthens the Food Centre’s current expertise.

The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) serves food processors, agricultural machinery manufacturers and farmers by providing applied research, product development, testing and design services.

With a strong history of independent, third-party farm equipment evaluation and development, PAMI has spurred technological advances in all areas of traditional farming practices.

The Canadian Feed Research Centre (CFRC) is a research feed mill owned by the University of Saskatchewan, located in the city of North Battleford, Saskatchewan. The CFRC is a national feeds research centre that research, develops and commercializes new and better high-value animal feeds from low-value crops. It also develops and commercializes co‑products from bioprocessing and biofuels industries and novel feed additives.

This world-class facility is unique in offering a broad range of research scale capability, from laboratory to pilot plant to larger industrial scale research – a major advantage in attracting commercialization activities and engaging industry.

Ag-West Bio is a not-for-profit, membership-based company that works to support the commercialization of bioscience technologies in the areas of sustainable crop production, food processing, health, environment, biofuels and bioproducts.

Ag-West Bio provides services to entrepreneurs to commercialize their innovations and to create sound business plans.

Innovation Saskatchewan provides recommendations and advice to the Saskatchewan Government regarding its strategic direction in the areas of research, development, science and technology. Innovation Saskatchewan is also involved with the demonstration and the commercialization of new technologies and facilitates in the co-ordination of the province’s innovation activities.

Innovation Saskatchewan focuses on supporting Saskatchewan’s research community and technology sector to create economic growth and diversity.

The Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership (STEP) is a member-driven, non-profit corporation dedicated to increasing Saskatchewan’s export activities while raising awareness of our province’s distinct products and services. STEP offers their members a variety of services and programs that can help diversify customer bases and grow business.

Female Entrepreneurs in Agri-Food Development (FEAD) is dedicated to empowering and advancing women entrepreneurs in the agri-food processing sector by equipping them with the necessary knowledge, resources, and connections for success. Through a range of initiatives, FEAD offers comprehensive support at every stage of the entrepreneurial journey. Offerings include educational programs, workshops, mentorship opportunities, and access to funding networks.

Prairie Food Link is an industry-led food cluster that offers companies and entrepreneurs opportunities to gather for informal discussions and networking and builds connections for the food community. The cluster spans Saskatoon and a wide region outside of the city into northern Saskatchewan.

Headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan, Protein Industries Canada (PIC) is a not-for-profit organization created to position Canada as a global source of high-quality plant protein and plant-based co-products.

PIC is an industry-led value chain consortium of small- to large-sized enterprises involved in food and food ingredient manufacturing, agriculture and food-related services, research and development, technology, economic development, finance and investment, education and training.

The Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) is developing Saskatchewan-led solutions to feed a growing world population. GIFS is a unique $52-million public-private partnership that is designed to develop transformative technologies for both developed and developing countries to help prepare the world for a sustainable future.

GIFS works with partners to discover, develop and deliver innovative solutions for the production of globally sustainable food.

The organization focuses on improving genetic potential of seeds, improving soil quality and fertility, and improving digital agriculture information and communication technology.

The Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP) is a privately run and operated agri-food investment incubator looking for cutting-edge technologies from early and rapid-growth companies seeking to improve efficiency, sustainability and profitability within the global agriculture and food sector.

The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) is one of Canada’s leading providers of applied research, development and the transfer of innovative scientific and technological solutions, applications and services. SRC provides a range of services to support a sustainable agriculture industry in Canada including:

• Agriculture products testing;
• DNA testing services;
• Custom DNA analytics;
• Custom lab equipment & instrumentation;
• Microbial fermentation services;
• Climate services;
• Bioprocessing; and
• Carbon accounting, life cycle assessments and environmental impact management.

The National Research Council (NRC) conducts research and provides sophisticated, affordable research facilities to biotech startup companies. NRC is a world leader in genetic engineering. NRC’s mission is to perform, assist and promote strategic research in plant biotechnology to improve and diversify the Canadian industry and strengthen Canada’s competitive position in the global economy.

NRC's research areas include carbohydrate modification, cell technologies, gene expression, biotechnology, plant growth regulation, molecular pathology, promoter/gene discovery technology and seed adaptation modifications.

Saskatoon Research Centre

• The Saskatoon Research Centre is located on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan and conducts research on prairie crops to support the agri-food industry in Western Canada.
• Their research focuses on integrated crop management for sustainable cropping systems, integrated strategies for genetic improvement of oilseed, legume and forage crops, genetic resource conservation, characterization and utilization and bioproducts and bioresources. The Centre is also home of the Plant Gene Resources of Canada, an important international repository of crops.

Swift Current Research and Development Centre

• The Swift Current Research and Development Centre was established in 1920 and conducts major agricultural research on the dryland regions in Canada’s prairie.
• The Centre aims to address severe drought, erosion, frost, pests and crop disease and provide support to the expanding settlements in the region characterized by a semi-arid climate.

The College of Agriculture and Bioresources is a world-class, interdisciplinary applied sciences college specializing in three primary scientific and social domains:

• Sustainable production systems;
• Safe food supply and bioproducts; and
• Environment, ecology and community.

It’s also home to the Rayner Dairy Research and Teaching Facility. This state-of-the-art facility offers unparalleled opportunities for researchers to create new knowledge that will help Canadian agricultural producers stay competitive, as well as providing a superior learning environment for its students and the visiting public.

The Crop Development Centre (CDC) conducts field crop breeding as well as basic and applied crop research and development at the University of Saskatchewan.

The CDC is focused on improving existing crops, creating new uses for traditional crops and developing new crops. Over the last four decades, the CDC has created more than 500 new commercial crop varieties of over 40 different crop types.

The Prairie Swine Centre is a non-profit research facility that develops practical swine production technology for the public and private sectors.