Centre for Bioeconomy at Fanshawe College (CBE@FAN)

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To enhance its service to the agri-food production sector, a priority area for applied research under its new Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA) 2017-2020, Fanshawe College proposes to establish the Centre for Bioeconomy at Fanshawe College (CBE@Fan), a collaborative, industry-led research hub within our newly opened Centre for Advanced Research and Innovation in Biotechnology (CARIB). Federal and provincial policy looks to grow the agri-food production sector (and agriculture more generally) through increased innovation, recognizing its importance to the economy at all levels. However, agri-food producers face sectoral barriers to innovation that hamper growth, including inefficient knowledge diffusion and delayed technology adoption, insufficient support for product development and commercialization, and shortages of skilled labour. Currently, Fanshawe engages with about forty companies in this sector a year, but requires CBE@Fan's increased capacity to address these larger sectoral issues. Consultation with local and regional stakeholders identified bioeconomy projects-including the creation of new bioproducts, the enhancement of existing food and beverage products, and the valorization of agri-food waste-in three theme areas that could be served by CBE@Fan: 1) plant and soil health; 2) food innovation; and 3) Agri-Food Waste to Bioproducts Value Chains. The facilities, equipment, expertise, and personnel available to partners would make investments in innovation worthwhile, expedite product development and commercialization, and improve knowledge diffusion and technology adoption through its emphasis on collaborative and networked approaches to research and innovation. Further, by involving students in company-led applied research projects, CBE@Fan will develop highly qualified personnel (HQP) for the local workforce able to translate innovation activities from the lab to the workplace. Ultimately, we anticipate CBE@Fan will have an immediate and significant impact on the commercialization of new products, the establishment of new revenue streams, and the creation of new jobs.