Atlantic BIOCON 2018 set to kick off in Fredericton

The bioeconomy is a rapidly growing collision of sectors across the world. Entrepreneurs are creating opportunities to ensure our food security, improve our health and create a cleaner environment.

With dozens of private and public research institutions, vast forests, affordable agriculture land, and diversified coastal zones, Atlantic Canada is positioned to be a bioeconomy leader. Hundreds of Atlantic companies are already innovating in this space.

With over 20 speakers set to share their knowledge over the two-day agenda the organizers have focused the program around 5 subthemes: Growing the bioeconomy in Atlantic Canada, Company and applied research showcase, The new economy: What’s old is new again, Business opportunities: Back to our roots, and New ways of getting things done.

The new economy theme will feature Herb Emery, UNB’s Vaughan Chair in regional Economics and will explore how economies focused on natural resources can evolve thanks to innovation to unlock new economic growth. This subtheme also includes Nauja Bianco, Nordic Council of Ministers, who will share the Nordic countries bioeconomy model and outline how they’ve enabled incredible change for their traditional industries thanks to collaboration.

The next two themes, Business Opportunities and the Company and Applied Research Showcase will highlight the broad range of business opportunities already being explored in our backyard. The speakers range from James McDonnell of Moosehead Breweries, who will be sharing how waste streams can be revenue streams, to Jim Cunningham of Cardwell Farms who will demonstrate how Cardwell is using waste streams to feed their compost and soil business.

Our final theme will tackle hot topics in Atlantic Canada and will be focused on how innovation in bio goes well beyond the biological sciences and how the bioeconomy complements developments in data analytics, AI, clean tech and will be the first adopters of Industry 4.0 technologies.

“Atlantic BIOCON is the country’s best venue to highlight regional projects, technologies and opportunities as they relate to the transformation of Atlantic Canada’s bio-based resources. We think the best opportunity for growth is to bring our traditional industries into the 21st century, and this conference provides a forum for these discussions,” says Meaghan Seagrave, executive director, BioNB.

“Springboard Atlantic has been involved with Atlantic BIOCON since its inception. It is a key opportunity for researchers and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas that spark action. We have seen the projects that are developed from this conference transform our natural resources into valuable products that can grow our economy,” says Daryl Genge, president and CEO, Springboard Atlantic.

The Atlantic region holds significant research and development capacity in this nascent sector, showcased by a number of academic posters to be featured as part of this year’s Poster Session. Students from the University of Price Edward Island, the University of New Brunswick, Acadia University, and Dalhousie University will compete for poster prizes in the areas of applied science and technology.

The organizing committee is proud to be showcasing the scope of technologies and innovative research in the Atlantic region and beyond and looks forward to the collaborative biorefining projects that will emerge from the conference.