Using nanotechnology to create new opportunities for the agricultural sector: The Alberta Agricultural Research Institut

1. Using nanotechnology to create new opportunities for the agricultural sector: The Alberta Agricultural Research Institute Stan Blade, Ph.D., P.Ag. Alberta Agricultural Research Institute Alberta Nanotech Showcase November 21, 2008

2. Outline • Alberta’s agricultural sector • AARI strategic priorities • Agriculture and Nanotechnology • Current AARI investments • New opportunities

3. Alberta Farm Gate Value (2007)

4. The Alberta Agricultural Research Institute AARI envisions a thriving agriculture sector and bioeconomy through innovation in agriculture.

5. Strategic Direction • Sustainable production- Invest in innovations which will address challenges and create opportunities throughout the value chain.

6. Global productivity has increased! Cited in: Slow Magic, IFPRI. 2001

7. Cereal Price Index, 1905-2000 (All prices = 100 in 1960) Source: von Braun, IFPRI, February 2008

8. Strategic Direction • Food for Health- Create new opportunities for agriculture to create healthful products which meet the needs of consumers.

9. Innovation traits:Value chains GROW Information PROCESS DISTRIBUTE MARKET PURCHASE Value EAT

10. Cis-1,4-polyisoprene (natural rubber) Genomics-aided identification of novel bio-catalysts (enzymes) Lettuce Sesquiterpene lactone Nootkatone - a key aroma compound in the peel of grapefruit

11. Strategic Direction • Industrial biorefining – Enhance Alberta’s capacity to convert biological feedstocks (biomass) to higher value fine chemicals, materials/fibres, heat and power-in addition to food and feed. Integrate existing Alberta strengths in agriculture, forestry and energy.

12. Industrial Uses Canadian Triticale Biorefinery Protein and Bran DDGS Feed Products Thermoplastics, polymer blends, adhesives, paper coatings, paper additives, flocculants, textile sizing, foam packing Dry Starch Triticale Starch Glucose Syrup Building blocks: Ethanol, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Sorbitol, Levulinic Acid, Xanthan Gum, etc Solvents, cosmetics, toiletries, polishes, pharmaceuticals, electroplating agents, surfactants, adhesives,paints, plastics, fuels, C5 and C6 sugars Triticale Straw Biocomposite, wallboard, tile/bricks, resins, dyes, energy Cellulose Hemicellulose Lignin How can the bioeconomy change traditional agriculture and agri-food business models? • Potential for transforming agricultural biomass into new and differentiated products will lead to new relationships with traditional industrial manufacturers. • Biorefineries will provide an opportunity to move from a “one-to-one” to a “one-to-many” product development ratio • “One-to-many” biorefineries can support economic growth along the value chain and reduce market risk through output flexibility • Allowing higher-valued co-products to offset lower-valued ones … however, biorefineries need to move beyond primarily R&D to form a critical mass across Canada

13. Where is Alberta now? Long Term Strategic Industry Outcomes $ billion Categories

14. AARI investments • Bovine genomics • Value-added meats • Canadian Triticale Biorefining Initiative • Alberta Lipid Utilization Program • Animal health • Crop genetics • New products from ag co-products • Industrial products from biomass

15. Why do we need to invest in innovation? New opportunities Source: GrowCanada Vision 2015

16. Nano-agriculture- What is happening now? • Helmut Kaiser Report (2002)- “More than 180 applications are in different developing stages, and a few of them are already on the market. The nanofood market is expected to surge from $2.6B today to $20.4B in 2010.” • Danish NanoFood Consortium • Forbes (2005)- Heinz, Hershey Nestle and Unilever have made major research investments. • Kraft Foods- NanoteK Food Consortium (2000) • Physicists, engineers, molecular chemists • 15 universities and 2 U.S. national labs • Goal: interactive, “smart” foods

17. Current research • Clemson University (Latour et al.)- Adhesin-specific nanoparticles remove Campylobacter from poultry. • Oregon State University (Simonsen)- cellulose nanocrystalline composites • Cornell University ( Walter et al.)- use nanotags to track hydrological flows to address non-point source pollution.

18. 2005 Early Stage Agrifood Nanotechnology R&D Inventory Courtesy: J. Kuzma, 2005

19. AARI projects in Nanotech • Novel tools to treat animal diseases-Singh (U of S) and Fenniri (U of A/NINT)- $139, 150 • Novel vaccine delivery tool- Aich (U of S) $85,800 • Micro/nanoencapsulation of flax-based nutraceuticals- Temelli (U of A)- $267,375 • Intelligent fertilizers using biosensors- Monreal (AAFC)- $200,000 • Using carbon nanotubes for plant biotechnology- Kav (U of A) - $224,250 • Continuous membrane filtration reactors- Bressler (U of A)- $258,750

20. The Leduc FoodProcessing Centre Alberta-$10-12 billion food processing • Value added products • Research • Company incubator

21. National Institute for Nanotechnology • The $120m National Institute for Nanotechnology (NNT) • is located at the University of Alberta. • The Government of Alberta • has recently announced a $130m Nanotechnology Strategy which • includes a focus on agriculture.

22. Nano-agriculture applications • Delivery of nutritional functions • Controlled bioavailability of molecules • Flavour release • Taste and texture modification • Food quality sensors • Nanotags (traceability) • Enhanced quality traits • Detection of undesirable elements • Smart packaging materials