Biomanufacturing and the Circular Bioeconomy

In our last post, we talked about how biomanufacturing thrives when circular economy principles are applied to emphasize sustainability throughout the entire lifecycle of bioproducts. This shift in mindset goes beyond adopting new practices—it’s a rethinking of production and consumption.

We’re all well-versed in this concept, whether we recognize it or not. Natural ‘economies’ are nearly always circular in nature – think about the carbon cycle, where carbon is released from dead plants and animals, reabsorbed by the soil and microbes within it, and then reincorporated into new organisms; or the water cycle, where constant cycles of evaporation and precipitation renew the planet’s water resources naturally. In fact, our current economy is the exception to the rule. By creating circular manufacturing processes and eliminating waste, we can restore our environment while maintaining strong economic growth.

Adopting a circular economy mindset in biomanufacturing goes beyond merely adopting new practices. It signifies a profound shift in the way we think about production and consumption. While it can be daring to challenge the status quo, several industries have recognized the importance of a circular economy as the viable path forward. This is made possible through three key values:

  1. Collaboration over competition: Industries, manufacturers, and consumers must collaborate throughout the lifecycle. It’s about sharing resources, knowledge, and best practices to create a sustainable ecosystem. The wasteCANcreate upcycling consortium is a great example of this in action!
  2. Long-Term Perspective: Prioritizing long-term environmental and social impacts over short-term profits ensures sustainability.
  3. Consumer Engagement: Empowering consumers to make informed choices supports businesses committed to circularity and responsible consumption habits.
Real-World Examples

Several companies are already putting these principles into action. Ontario Genomics’ industry partners, including IGPC Ethanol, EcoPoly Solutions, and lululemon athletica, all share these values and are working together to create more impact than any of them could individually.

IGPC Ethanol has transformed distillers’ grains—once considered waste—into a highly nutritious animal feed ingredient and are now looking for even better ways of upcycling these by-products, including in the production of packaging materials. This is just one way the circular economy can create value while reducing waste. As Sheena Alexander, Director of Strategy & Innovation at IGPC, explains:

At IGPC, we believe that circularization and upcycling are not just buzzwords but critical strategies for a sustainable future. Embracing the circular economy mindset in biomanufacturing isn’t just about changing processes; it’s a shift in perspective that drives innovation and sustainability across the entire product lifecycle“.

EcoPoly Solutions and lululemon athletica, are also collaborating to make an impact by testing materials produced through circular processes. By sharing resources and insights within the consortium, these companies demonstrate that the circular economy is not just a trend but a transformative force reshaping the way we produce and consume.

These companies are an example of what is possible. By adopting circular principles and embracing a sustainable mindset, we can reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect our biosphere for future generations. Our planet’s future depends on it.

The upcycling process

John M. Rafferty joins Ontario Genomics as new President & CEO

Ontario Genomics Names John M. Rafferty as New CEO to Champion Made-in-Ontario Innovation

Ontario Genomics is pleased to announce the appointment of John M. Rafferty as its new President & Chief Executive Officer, effective March 31, 2025. A visionary and dynamic leader with 25 years of experience driving innovation and impact in diverse organizations, John brings extensive experience in advancing transformative initiatives across sectors.

John joins Ontario Genomics following his tenure as President & CEO of CNIB, where he led the organization through a period of unprecedented growth and impact, expanding its national reach and strengthening partnerships across industries. His leadership in fostering innovation, strategic collaborations, and policy advocacy has been instrumental in creating meaningful change for blind individuals and communities across Canada.

As he steps into his new role at Ontario Genomics, John is committed to accelerating the commercialization of innovative genomic technologies and advancing “made-in-Ontario” solutions to address some of the world’s greatest challenges. Under his leadership, Ontario Genomics will continue to build strong partnerships between researchers, industry, and government to unlock the full economic and societal potential of genomics in Ontario and beyond.

We are also pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Jordan Thomson to Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Commercialization. Jordan steps into his new role after successfully serving as COO for the past thirteen months. Jordan’s deep expertise in genomics technologies and their commercialization pathways, coupled with John’s leadership, will create a powerful team to drive market adoption and impact.

We also extend our deepest gratitude to Stephen Cummings, who has served as Interim President & CEO for the past year. His steadfast leadership has been instrumental in guiding Ontario Genomics through a pivotal period of transition. Stephen’s dedication has strengthened our position as a leader in the genomics ecosystem, and we thank him for his invaluable contributions.

Please join us in welcoming John to Ontario Genomics and watch this space for more exciting news in the weeks ahead!

The Future of Food is Coming but is Canada Ready?

New Report Projects an $18.8 Billion Food Biomanufacturing Industry for Canada

Following up on its 2021 report, Ontario Genomics has updated economic analysis for Canada’s food biomanufacturing sector in the Food Innovation in Canada Report, which shows explosive economic and job creation opportunities across the country. Cellular agriculture, or food biomanufacturing, is the process of using precision fermentation, cell cultivation or tissue engineering to make various foods, ingredients and even textiles that are usually made through traditional agriculture and manufacturing.

Along with input and feedback from researchers and organizations that specialize in food security and innovation, Dr. Michael von Massow at the University of Guelph, provided the economic analysis for this ground-breaking report on the future of precision fermented and cultivated foods in Canada. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Food biomanufacturing in Canada could become an $18.8 billion industry creating 125,000 jobs as soon as 2050, with greater growth in the long term.
  • Ontario could lead the country in food biomanufacturing with a $13 billion industry potential that could create over 91,000 jobs.
  • A cohesive national strategy, large-scale production facilities, research and commercial development support, and an agile regulatory process are needed to help Canada reach its potential and stay globally competitive.

Report author and Director of Strategic Partnerships, Elaine Corbett, says, “This report shows government and food producers the massive economic potential for food biomanufacturing in our country and gives the data needed for a national strategy and investment. This kind of food innovation is already happening around the world and considering the shifting economic climate, Canada needs to do even more to develop this manufacturing for Canadians but also to export to other countries.

Since the 2021 report, there has been significant growth in the number of Canadian companies, investment, research and development, but more support is needed to help this industry overcome commercial scale-up challenges.

Ontario Genomics is a non-profit organization funded by the Government of Ontario and other partners. Since 2000, we’ve been involved with cutting-edge science to find homegrown solutions to challenges the world faces like climate change, food insecurity and in healthcare.

Canada launches the most ambitious genomic health research program in Canada history: The Canadian Precision Health Initiative

The Canadian Precision Health Initiative (CPHI) is a $200M investment from the Government of Canada, through Genome Canada, to help transform Canada’s healthcare approach into a modern, precision health system.

Supported by the regional Genome Centres, including Ontario Genomics, this initiative will build Canada’s largest-ever collection of human genomic data —more than 100,000 genomes. This database will represent Canada’s diverse population to ensure precision health innovations benefit all.

Canadian Precision Health Initiative (CPHI)

CPHI partners will work together to build a coordinated precision health community that will:

  • Build a Canadian alliance for genomics in health to align efforts across Canada’s complex, federated health and research ecosystems.
  • Mobilize and advance the utility of genomic health data, working with academia and industry to ensure they have the right data assets and AI-powered tools to deliver life-saving solutions.
  • Implement data governance and policies ensuring the ethical and responsible use of genomic data.

Ontario Genomics is the lead for 4 awarded projects and the co-lead for 2 awarded projects. These projects will help generate high-quality genomic data that can be shared and securely used by researchers and clinicians across Canada. Learn more about these projects below:

Expanding the Use of Genomics to Unravel Rare Diseases: Care4Rare EXPAND

Project Leaders: Kym Boycott (University of Ottawa/Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute), Christian Marshall (University of Toronto/Hospital for Sick Children), Francois Bernier (University of Calgary), Jacques Michaud (Université de Montréal/CHU Ste Justine)

Genome Centres: Ontario Genomics, Genome Alberta, Génome Québec

INFANT: Identifying At-risk Newborns from the Analysis of NGS Testing

Project Leaders: Kristin Kernohan, Neal Sondheimer, Melanie Lacaria, Erika Bariciak, Pranesh Chakraborty, Matthew Henderson (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute)

Genome Centre: Ontario Genomics

Precision Child Health – Comprehensive Sequencing for Childhood Life-long Disorders

Project Leaders: Stephen Scherer, Seema Mital, David Malkin, Linda Hiraki, Amanda Ricciuto, Gregory Costain, Yiming Wang, Ronald Cohn (Hospital for Sick Children)

Genome Centre: Ontario Genomics

Precision Health Network for Neurodevelopment, Mental Health and Brain Injury

Project Leaders: Evdokia Anagnostou (Holland Bloorview Research Institute), Jennifer Crosbie, Stephen Scherer, Louise Gallagher (The Hospital for Sick Children), Jacob Vorstman (Hospital for Sick Children), Darcy Fehlings (University of Toronto/Holland Bloorview Research Institute), Roger Zemek (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute), Danielle Andrade (University Health Network)

Genome Centre: Ontario Genomics

Genomic Evidence for Precision Medicine for Selected Chronic Diseases among Black Peoples in Canada

Project Leaders: Upton Allen (Hospital for Sick Children), Loydie Jerome-Majewska (McGill University), OmiSoore Dryden (Dalhousie University), Juliet Daniel (McMaster University)

Genome Centres: Genome Atlantic, Génome Québec, Ontario Genomics

Longitudinal, Deep-Phenotyped Pediatric Databank of Medical and Drug Therapy Outcomes

Project Leaders: Bruce Carleton (University of British Columbia), Michael Rieder (University of Western Ontario), Maja Krajinovic (Université de Montréal)

Genome Centres: Genome British Columbia, Genome Alberta, Génome Québec, Ontario Genomics

Breaking the Waste Cycle and Embracing the Circular Bioeconomy

Take. Make. Waste. Much of the prosperity of the Industrial Revolution is attributed to inventions that enhanced the ability to extract natural resources from the environment and turn them into products at the largest possible scale. However, the pursuit of efficiency and profitability instilled a mindset that still dominates our modern society: the use of finite resources to make disposable products to maximize profit. This idea, known as the “linear economy”, was a stark contrast to the slower and laborious way of living back in th day, which repurposed everything from building materials, to textiles, and food, back into the life cycle. We have come to see first-hand the devastation caused by a linear economy. Luckily, we have some good news on this – the new circular bioeconomy!

Surrounded by tonnes and tonnes of waste in landfills, oceans and land, the uncomfortable reality is we cannot go on the same way. The good news is that there are solutions. Instead of considering waste as an inherent byproduct of industrial operations, the circular economy framework treats waste as a design flaw and favours options to make waste more valuable and/or curb its production.

The circular economy is based on three key principles:

  1. eliminate waste and pollution
  2. circulate products and materials (at their highest value)
  3. regenerate nature

By “decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources” (Ellen McArthur Foundation) the circular economy enables waste from one product or process to serve as a feedstock for another. Natural systems, such as the carbon and water cycles, demonstrate the kind circularity achievable in other industries. These processes show that circular economies aren’t just ideal—they’re the rule of nature, with our current linear economy being the unnatural exception.

Biomanufacturing (the topic of our blog post #2) thrives when circular economic principles are applied and then translate into sustainability throughout the entire lifecycle of bioproducts. Circularity encompasses several key principles:

  1. Design for Sustainability: Biomanufacturers should design products with the end in mind. This includes considering the environmental impact of materials, production processes, and disposal methods from the start. Waste streams can serve as raw materials for producing valuable substances.
  2. Resource Efficiency: Optimizing the use of feedstocks, energy, and water throughout production minimizes waste.
  3. Reuse and Recycling: Reusing and recycling bioproducts and their components extends their lifespan and reduces the need for new resources.
  4. Regenerative Practices: Practices like sustainable agriculture and responsible harvesting of biomaterials restore ecosystems.

Applying these principles allows us to restore our environment without sacrificing strong economic growth. By focusing on circular manufacturing processes and eliminating waste, industries can regenerate ecosystems while still thriving. Stay tuned for the next post, where we’ll explore how biomanufacturing embraces these principles and provides real-world solutions.

The upcycling process

Ontario’s Biotech Sector is Booming

With $30 million in follow-on funding so far, more companies are joining the BioCreate accelerator

Eight new start-ups have been welcomed into BioCreate, an $11.6-million business accelerator giving financial and commercial support to Ontario biotech companies that are creating game-changing solutions in the food and agriculture, health, and cleantech sectors.

BioCreate was established by Ontario Genomics through a Government of Canada investment of more than $5.6 million from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

Each highly vetted company in the program gets $150,000, 18 months of business mentorship, access to critical infrastructure and the chance to pitch to potential investors. Since the program started in 2023, BioCreate companies have raised $30 million in funding and earned sales and revenue of $8.8 million.

Here are the newest BioCreate start-ups:

  • Ardra Bio is a business-to-business biotech company focused on creating sustainable and ethical ingredients that are used in food and cosmetics products.
  • Epiloid is a biotech company focused on finding effective treatments for neurological conditions through data analysis and personalized medicine.
  • Inteligex is a genomics company hoping to change the way traumatic spinal cord injuries are treated by developing drug and stem cell therapies for patients.
  • Materia Bioworks is revolutionizing the way eco-friendly materials are being made by simplifying the process for companies to produce biomaterials like sustainable plastics and packaging.
  • Material Futures is taking all-natural dyes to a new level by using the power of microbes to engineer colourants for a variety of industries including food, cosmetics and fabrics.
  • Mediphage is a genomics company that has created trademark DNA technology to improve the quality of key ingredients in genetic medicines.
  • Noa Therapeutics is a biotech company working to create better treatments for the millions of people struggling with illnesses like eczema, ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel disease.
  • ProteinQure is looking to lead the charge in making Ontario a thriving hub of drug development and research, while focusing on breast cancer therapies fuelled by peptides.

BioCreate’s Program Director, Elizabeth Gray, says, “Getting into BioCreate isn’t easy. Our acceptance rate is only 15% because of a stringent selection process that includes a panel of outside experts to make sure our companies have the greatest potential to succeed and get their technologies scaled up and into market quickly.

Congratulations to the eight companies that have joined the BioCreate program,” says the Honourable Ruby Sahota, Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). “They will be working hard to improve the lives of Canadians and it is our government’s priority to support our budding companies so they have access to the tools they need to succeed in important sectors like health, food, agriculture and cleantech.

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About Ontario Genomics
Ontario Genomics is a non-profit organization funded by the Government of Ontario and other partners. Since 2000, we’ve been involved with cutting-edge science to find homegrown solutions to challenges the world faces like climate change, food insecurity and in healthcare. Find out more at OntarioGenomics.ca.

About FedDev Ontario
For 14 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s TwitterFacebookInstagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contacts
Maggie Blood
Innovation Communications and Public Affairs Manager
mblood@ontariogenomics.ca

Pillar 1 of the Canadian Precision Health Initiative – Generating population-level genomic data

Genome Canada has launched a new funding opportunity for generation of population-level genomic data, which will be the first pillar of its soon-to-be announced large-scale precision health initiative. The goal of Genome Canada’s planned investment in the first pillar of the initiative is to sequence the genomes of at least 100,000 Canadians, reflecting Canada’s unique and diverse population. This will provide the rich dataset needed to advance research, drive innovation and improve health-care outcomes for all Canadians.

For more information or to apply, please contact Laura Riley, Director, Sector Innovation & Programs, at lriley@ontariogenomics.ca. Letters of Intent are due to Ontario Genomics by 10:00 AM, October 28, 2024.

Download full funding opportunity guidelines

Engineering Biology: Repurposing life’s vast toolkit for better products

In the pursuit of a greener and more sustainable future, biomanufacturing has emerged as a revolutionary approach with the potential to transform industries while minimizing their environmental impact.

Biomanufacturing, also known as bio-based manufacturing or bio-fabrication, is the process of using living things, mostly in the form of micro-organisms (bacteria, yeasts, algae etc.), cells, or enzymes, to produce a wide range of products, including chemicals, fuels, materials, food and ingredients, and even medicines. The applications of biomanufacturing are vast – it has been estimated that up to 60% of the physical inputs of the world’s economy could be produced by biological means! (Ref 1) Using the power of living organisms, biomanufacturing offers an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to traditional manufacturing methods that rely heavily on non-renewable resources and produce harmful byproducts.

Up to 60% of the physical inputs of the world's economy could be produced by biological means

Ref 1 – The Bio Revolution: Innovations transforming economies, societies,
and our lives, McKinsey & Company (2020)

So how does this work? The first thing to understand is that most of the materials, medicines, and foods we use every day are made up primarily of carbon, like all living things. Most of the carbon we use for manufacturing comes from either naturally occurring sugars or petroleum/oil. Living things have evolved to use carbon in almost infinite ways, giving us an equally vast ability to produce carbon-based products using natural means. So, most of the things we already make can be made by living things!
Many of the products we use every day are made up of carbon, which we extract from naturally occurring sugars or petroleum/oil

But what if we can’t find an organism that naturally creates the product we’re looking for? What if we find one, but it doesn’t produce enough of our molecule of interest to make economic sense? Here is where synthetic biology (synbio, or engineering biology) comes in. Synbio is a multidisciplinary field that brings together biology, chemistry, engineering, and computer science to turn micro-organisms into tiny factories that churn out products better than their natural counterparts. Synbio enables scientists to engineer micro-organisms and other biological systems to perform specific tasks with remarkable precision.

Canada is rich in natural resources, which has led to the development of numerous industries. However, the outcome is that waste produced is often disposed of in less-than-ideal ways. Fortunately, MetaCycler BioInnovations, is looking to change this narrative. The company, which is a spin-off from wasteCANcreate project member Dr. Trevor Charles’ lab at the University of Waterloo, is looking to divert food waste from landfills and produce valuable bio-plastic polymers that are being developed to have the same favourable characteristics as traditional oil-based plastics without creating harmful byproducts along the way. Similarly, YZymes Inc., a start-up company from Dr. Emma Master’s lab (also a wasteCANcreate project member) at the University of Toronto, produces chemical precursors for the production of bio-nylon and various commercially important resins, coatings, and adhesives, from tree biomass and leftover distillers’ grains, which are byproducts of the forestry and corn-based ethanol industries.

Key Advantages to Synbio in Biomanufacturing
  1. Customization: Synbio allows researchers to tailor micro-organisms to produce desired compounds efficiently. This level of customization means that biomanufacturing can be adapted to a wide array of applications, from sustainable materials to biofuels, catering to the needs of a wide variety of industries. It will even allow us to create materials that don’t currently exist.
  2. Resource Efficiency: Biomanufacturing relies on renewable resources, such as plant biomass or waste streams, as feedstock for micro-organisms. This approach reduces dependence on fossil fuels and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions which is less harmful to the environment.
  3. Waste Reduction: Traditional manufacturing often generates significant waste and harmful byproducts. But biomanufacturing has the potential to create products and processes with minimal waste, making it more sustainable and efficient.
  4. Low Carbon Footprint: As biomanufacturing largely relies on biological processes, it results in a smaller carbon footprint compared to conventional manufacturing methods.  
Advantages of synbio in biomanufacturing

Biomanufacturing holds the promise of revolutionizing the way we produce goods and achieve sustainability goals. With synbio platforms as its backbone, this emerging field presents a viable pathway to address the severe climate challenges our planet faces today. By embracing biomanufacturing technologies, we can move closer to a more sustainable world, where economic prosperity goes hand in hand with environmental responsibility. However, there are still challenges that need to be overcome before biomanufacturing can truly revolutionize our world – we’ll talk about that another time on the blog!

In case you missed it, we discussed Turning Waste into Value: A Pathway to Upcycling in our last post – check it out!

Ontario Genomics Welcomes New Board Member

Ontario Genomics Welcomes New Board Member

We’re delighted to introduce you to Lyndal Walker, the newest member of Ontario Genomics’ Board of Directors. Lyndal will enhance the board with a wealth of insight, experience, and expertise in the health and therapeutics space, all of which will help us achieve our strategic vision.

Lyndal Walker

Lyndal Walker is currently the General Manager of Sun Pharma Canada’s Branded Business.

As General Manager, Walker oversees the company’s increasing market investment and expansion of its wide range of medicines, particularly in dermatology, ophthalmology and oncology. Walker is focused on optimizing the power of Sun Pharma’s people, innovative products, global network, and localized research, to accelerate Sun Pharma’s growth in Canada. With over 25 years of experience in global healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry, she continues to unlock value for Canadians and address the unmet needs and gaps in the healthcare system. Read more about Lyndal Walker

Ontario Genomics is also thankful to our retiring board members for their years of deep commitment to our board.

  • Deb (Deborah) Stark served on our board for seven years and played an invaluable role as Chair of the board for five years. Deb brought a wealth of government and agriculture sector experience, while supporting vibrant board development and governance. We are especially grateful to Deb for her steady leadership throughout the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Mark Lundie served on our board for six years and brought fantastic expertise in rare disease and a global pharmaceutical sector perspective. Mark greatly supported our private sector and commercialization programs.
  • Jehoshua Sharma advanced our board with insights into the student perspective while supporting our training initiatives over the past four years. Thank you to our past board members for your contributions to OG!

To learn more about the new member and additional changes to our Board please see our governance page.

Showing Businesses How to Use Science to Their Advantage

A new online course teaches companies to partner with colleges to test their technologies

Micro-Credential Program_Fundamentals of Applied Research copy

It’s a nagging problem countless companies have faced: they have a great idea to improve their products or processes but don’t know how to make it a reality. That’s where Ontario Genomics and Loyalist College come in with a four-course Fundamentals of Applied Research micro-credential program that can get businesses from the idea stage to the testing phase.

The first course is now available and the best part is, it’s online and open to companies across the province. This 10-week, 25-hour, go-at-your-own-pace course walks through the process of how businesses can connect with local college researchers, design, fund and deliver a project that tests the new product or technology they want to incorporate into their operations.

Whether it’s creating a natural food product or ingredient, figuring out more sustainable packaging or improving crop production, applied research projects are a win-win for the community since it’s a lower-risk option that allows local businesses to produce homegrown innovations more efficiently, while also giving college researchers projects to work on.

Fundamentals of Applied Research micro-credential program

Ontario Genomics Strategic Partnerships Manager Michael Dorrington, says, “Most companies don’t realize local colleges offer this kind of access to lab space and expertise to test their ideas. This micro-credential goes through all the steps businesses need to take advantage of this invaluable support available to them.

Amy Harder, Loyalist College Senior Director of Business Development, says, “We’re proud to support businesses and entrepreneurs by offering targeted corporate training programs like this course. It’s through these initiatives that Loyalist strengthens the regional economy and fosters local growth.

Ontario Genomics is a non-profit organization funded by the Government of Ontario and other partners. Since 2000, we’ve been involved with cutting-edge science to find homegrown solutions to challenges the world faces like climate change, food insecurity and in healthcare. Find out more at OntarioGenomics.ca