Canadian Companies Foster New Technology and Business Partnerships

Mission to Yangling, China Marks another Milestone in the Establishment of a Trilateral R&D Cooperation Program in Agri-Innovation

OTTAWA, Ontario, January 20, 2011 – International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada (ISTPCanada) and the Canada-Israel Industrial R&D Foundation (CIIRDF), in partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), organized and led a Technology and Business Partnering Mission to the China Yangling Agricultural High-Tech Fair (CAF) in November 2010. It represents another key milestone in a new trilateral R&D cooperation program between Canada, China and Israel for the sustainable development of agriculture and agri-foods. Building on the outcomes of trilateral roundtables in 2008 and 2009, and the launch of a three-way Call for Proposals in 2010, the mission enabled companies to explore opportunities for the collaborative development, commercialization and application of new technologies that could increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

The four-day event brought 13 Canadian technology-based agriculture firms and research organizations together with more than 50 prospective partners from China and Israel to explore opportunities for collaborative R&D, technology commercialization and business development. Building on discussions conducted during the mission, several delegates are now exploring initial cooperative R&D and business agreements with international counterparts. Downstream, these strategic linkages could help to increase demand for Canadian technology and its potential application in different agricultural sectors; facilitate the joint development of novel agricultural products; and stimulate new commercial opportunities for Canadian firms in the global agricultural market. Total global demand for agricultural machinery and equipment alone is projected to reach US$111 billion by 2012.

As the cradle of China’s agricultural science and technology development and location of the world’s largest Agricultural Fair, Yangling provided an ideal setting for more than 50 technology and business matchmaking meetings. As Canadian delegates reviewed and selected prospective collaborators of interest prior to the mission, participants conducted productive discussions about specific complementarities, R&D and business goals and relevant market opportunities. The mission also helped to promote the R&D strengths of Canada, China and Israel; existing agricultural technologies and products; and potential sources of investment for bilateral and trilateral R&D projects that leverage the complementary capabilities, expertise and resources of each partner.

In addition to the matchmaking meetings, Yangling also served as the backdrop for the announcement of the China-Canada-Israel Centre for Agri-Innovation. The first of its kind, the Center will support the commercialization of new technologies emerging from trilateral R&D projects supported under the Canada-China-Israel cooperation program. Leveraging joint funding and other support from all three nations, it will provide Canadian companies and their collaborators with a research-intensive site in Yangling, China, for the development, incubation and demonstration of new technologies. This will create new opportunities to participate in the commercialization of new agricultural applications, and benefit from direct and facilitated access to the Chinese market.

“This mission represents another important step towards the implementation of a trilateral R&D program that promises to accelerate agri-innovation, and deliver economic and social benefits to Canada, China and Israel,” said Dr. Henri Rothschild, President and CEO, ISTPCanada and CIIRDF. “It enabled Canadian innovators to strengthen existing linkages, meet with prospective collaborators, and pursue new business development and trade opportunities. Long-term, these partnerships will help Canadian companies to access and exploit new markets, and increase their competiveness in the global economy.”

“The outcomes of this mission directly support the innovation objectives established by AAFC, and promote Canada’s leading expertise in the development and application of agri-technology,” said Dr. Yvon Martel, Chief Scientist, International, Research Branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. “Canadian advances in science and technology have spearheaded new innovations in food processing, health and wellness, environmental health, sustainable agriculture, biotechnology and bioproducts. Our collaboration with China and Israel leverages our mutual knowledge, and promises to yield new solutions to food production, security and sustainability challenges.”

“Building on discussions initiated in 2008, this mission enabled our company to finalize a new technology transfer and product commercialization partnership with the Shaanxi Hybrid Rapeseed Research Center that will accelerate our product development and help facilitate our entry into China’s canola seed market,” said Dr. Yafan Huang, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Performance Plants Inc. of Kingston, Ontario. “With essential support from ISTPCanada and the Government of Yangling, this mission enabled in-person meetings, a greater understanding of R&D competencies, and most importantly, the continued development of trust. This is required to foster productive and mutually beneficial business collaboration.”

“Our research centre offers some of the most advanced rapeseed breeding technology in the world; this has enabled us to capture about 10 percent of the rapeseed market in China to date,” said Dr. Dianrong Li, renowned hybrid rape specialist with the Shaanxi Hybrid Rapeseed Research Center. “Our partnership with PPI will help us to address some key gaps in our R&D and accelerate our rapeseed breeding innovation by enabling us to leverage their leading-edge biological engineering technology.”

About International Science and Technology Partnerships Canada (ISTPCanada)

ISTPCanada develops and implements R&D collaboration programs under Science and Technology (S&T) cooperation agreements between Canada and its key trading partners, including India, China, Brazil and Israel. Mandated by the Government of Canada through the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, ISTPCanada facilitates the development of new R&D partnerships between Canadian companies, research organizations and their counterparts in other countries; invests in cooperative research projects with high commercial potential; and stimulates early-stage partnership development activity. In doing so, ISTPCanada develops new models of bilateral and multilateral collaboration that enhance Canada’s competitiveness through the increased use of international research-based alliances, and helps to strengthen Canada’s overall S&T, economic, trade and political relations with other nations. For additional information, please visit: www.istpcanada.ca

About the Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation

The Canada-Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation is an international role model for fostering innovation. The program grants seed money for basic advanced technological research and development to joint ventures of Canadian and Israeli small enterprises. Approved projects have demonstrated both commercial viability and outstanding contribution to the public good; for instance, cancer research. For additional information, please visit: www.ciirdf.ca

About Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) provides information, research and technology, and policies and programs to achieve an environmentally sustainable, competitive and innovative agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector that proactively manages risk. AAFC, along with its portfolio partners, reports to Parliament and Canadians through the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board. For additional information, please visit: http://www.agr.gc.ca/

About Performance Plants Inc.

Performance Plants Inc. (PPI) is a global leader in agricultural and biofuel technology development. The company's patented technologies weatherproof food and non-food biofuel crops through periods of drought and heat stress resulting in a more abundant, consistent and cost-effective harvests for farmers, and feedstock suppliers. The company has licensed its breakthrough Yield Protection Technology® to some of the world's leading seed companies such as Pioneer Hi-Bred (a Dupont Company), Bayer CropScience, Syngenta, Stine, RiceTec and Scotts Miracle Gro. The privately-held company is headquartered with R&D facilities in Kingston, Ontario. This Canadian based firm is actively growing non-food biofuel crops to replace coal at Lafarge Canada Inc.'s cement plant in Bath, Ontario. PPI and Lafarge have a multi-year agreement to develop and grow clean energy biomass. For additional information, please visit: www.performanceplants.com

About the Shaanxi Hybrid Rapeseed Research Center

The Shaanxi Hybrid Rapeseed Research Center is a public institution in agricultural research under the direct leadership of Ministry of Science and Technology of Shaanxi Province of China. As the leading rapeseed research centre in China, it is the germplasm and breeding base of high quality double-low rapeseed for the Shaanxi Rapeseed Branch of the State Oilseed Crops Improvement Center and for Shaanxi more broadly. As rapeseed is the leading crop across the province (together with wheat, legume and vegetables), the center enables research, experimentation, technology development and demonstration to support the innovative breeding and cultivation of this resource. To date, the center has cultivated 34 new varieties of rapeseed with an accumulated planting area of over 250 million mu (or about 17 million hectares). It has also generated $14.5 billion CNY (or about US $2.2 billion) in socioeconomic value across China, obtaining 42 awards for science and technology innovation; four patents; and two plant variety rights. Leveraging new investment from Shaanxi Provincial Government, the Shaanxi Hybrid Rapeseed Research Center research centre is currently being moved from Dali County to the State Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Industries Demonstration Zone. For additional information, please visit: www.shrc.org.cn

About the China Yangling Agricultural High-tech Fair

China Yangling Agricultural High-tech Fair (CAF) was established in 1994. Approved by the Chinese State Council in October 1999, CAF is sponsored by 17 ministries such as the Ministry of Science and Technology, P.R. China, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Education, etc., as well as the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government, Co-sponsored by UNESCO, the World Bank, The Asian-Pacific Centre for Transfer for Technology (APCTT), etc., and organized by Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government. It is regularly held in autumn in Yangling, China. CAF is the largest-scale agricultural fair in China, with a total area of more than 60,000 square metres and more than 1,300 indoor booths. It features more than 10,000 science, technology and education exhibitors from over 40 countries and regions, spanning America, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Malaysia, and attracts more than 1.5 million visitors. For additional information, please visit: http://en.agri-fair.com

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