Since 2019, Ontario Genomics has been working to advance an emerging field – cellular agriculture – in Ontario and across Canada. In October 2023, we teamed up with The Cultivated B (TCB), a European biotechnology company, to bring cellular agriculture infrastructure, jobs, talent, and innovation development opportunities to Ontario. This partnership announcement aligned with TCB’s exciting news about opening a massive 130,000-square-foot production facility and Canadian headquarters in Burlington, Ontario. It’s like we’re setting up a groundbreaking hub for the future of scalable and sustainable protein production.

What’s all this buzz about cellular agriculture? Well, imagine a world where we don’t rely solely on traditional agriculture as a source for our nutrition; instead, we use cutting-edge biotechnology to grow delicious and sustainable products. This could mean getting our favourite proteins, flavours, and even fats from alternative sources that do not require the slaughtering of animals! But wait, there’s more – think about foods like dairy, eggs, meat, chocolate, foie gras, and seafood being created without putting a strain on our planet. That’s what cellular agriculture is all about.

In November 2021, Ontario Genomics and our partners released a report titled “Cellular Agriculture – Canada’s $12.5 Billion Opportunity in Food Innovation.” This report highlights the incredible potential for this new way of producing food and alternative proteins and beyond. The report didn’t just talk numbers; it showed the opportunity to make up to $12.5 billion yearly and create about 142,000 new jobs across Canada. That’s like turbocharging our economy while caring for our environment – a win-win situation!

For all this to become a viable reality, we need a special place where magic can happen. That’s where Ontario Genomics and TCB’s partnership comes in. The Burlington manufacturing facility will be home to a transformative innovation hub. This hub will be a playground for scientists, researchers, and companies to come together and bring their impactful ideas to life. They’ll have access to top-notch labs, fancy bioreactors (fancy science machines!), and expert guidance to make their ideas go from small tests to big, real-world products.

And you know the exciting part? This isn’t just about food. The science behind cellular agriculture can be used for all sorts of things – from more sustainable components for cosmetics to creating high-tech, vegan fabrics and even helping with critical medicines like vaccines. So, it’s not just about a delicious meal; it’s about cutting-edge biotechnology for scalable and sustainable alternatives for the industry.

To provide equitable technological access, there are exciting opportunities for everyone to join in. Training programs, where people can learn about this cutting-edge field and land excellent jobs, are an essential piece of this puzzle. It’s like being a part of something huge and groundbreaking from the start.

So, there you have it – the story of Ontario Genomics, TCB, and the incredible journey of changing how we eat, live, and create. We are writing a whole new chapter in the book of innovation, and everyone is invited to take a bite. With interdisciplinary teams of scientists, a dash of innovation, and a whole lot of passion, we’re on track to create not just a better food system but a better future for all of us. Who knows, maybe the next burger you munch on will be a product of science and a sprinkle of Canadian magic!