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Thanks for making the 5th Plant Bio-Industrial Oils Workshop a success!

Ag-West Bio, the National Research Council - Plant Biotechnology Institute and Genome Prairie would like to extend our gratitude to the speakers, panelists, and Chairs for sharing their knowledge and ideas, and to the sponsors who helped make this workshop happen. And, of course, to everyone who attended - this event could not happen without your interest and support.

Workshop presentations are now available:

Workshop attendees: To view presentations, click here and enter the password you received by email. You will be directed to a short questionnaire that will help us evaluate the workshop. If you haven't received your password, please contact us.

Click here to see photos from the workshop.

If you did not attend the workshop, but would like a copy of the presentations, they are available on disk for a fee. Please call 306-975-1939 for more information.

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Venue and accommodations

The beautiful and historic Delta Bessborough Hotel --  the 'castle' on the bank of the South Saskatchewan River in downtown Saskatoon is once again the venue for the Plant Bio-Industrial Oils Workshop.
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Toll free: 1-800-268-1133 or 306-244-5521

Website: http://www.deltahotels.com/hotels/hotels.php?hotelId=8

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Registration

Ag-West Bio members: $214.00 + GST = $224.70
Non-members: $238.00 + GST = $249.90
* Registration fee includes one banquet ticket. Extra banquet tickets are available for $50.40 (includes GST).

Student rate: $40.00 + GST = $42.00
*Student fee does not include banquet ticket. Banquet ticket may be purchased separately if desired
** Students must submit a copy of valid student card and proof of enrollment (letter from University or College, etc).
Call (306) 975-1939 for more information.
 

Thank you!

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Program

Click here for a printable version of the program (subject to change).

Program at a Glance: (Last update: February 11, 2009)

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Speakers
15 international and local experts (from both industry and research) will speak on the topic of plant bio-industrial oils from the perspective of producers, breeders, and business. An overview of current and potential applications will also be presented along with an update on what's happening around the world. Click on a name for a biography and presentation abstract.

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Dick Auld
Rockwell Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science
Texas Tech University

Biography:
Dr. Dick Auld has over thirty years of experience in using plant genetics to develop commercial crop varieties which produce unique products with enhanced value. Much of his work has concentrated on developing cultivars of canola, cotton, and minor oilseed crops. Since 1991 he served as an administrator, researcher, and teacher at Texas Tech University. In 2006, he was named as the Rockwell Professor of Plant Genetics and in 2008 accepted a joint appointment with Texas AgriLife Research (Texas A&M University). One of his most recent projects is the development of industrial oilseed crops for use in the production of biodiesel and industrial biopolymers.
 
 Abstract:
 Castor with Reduced Ricin as a New Industrial Oilseed Crop - Dick Auld and Steve Oswalt
 High concentrations of the deadly toxin, ricin, found in Castor (Ricinus communis L.) seed has limited commercial production and processing of this crop in North America. Research initiated in1994 at Texas Tech University has attempted to reduce the concentration of ricin with the use of conventional genetics. In 2010, a new variety of dwarf internode castor, ‘Brigham’ will be released which has a 10 fold reduction in the concentration of ricin and a second toxin called RCA120. This genetic reduction combined with reduction of toxins recently demonstrated in oil extraction should significantly reduce the health hazard associated with production and processing of castor. Production of low ricin, dwarf internode cultivars of castor with the use of plant growth regulators and crop termination has allowed us to produce excellent seed and oil yields using mechanized planting and harvest under short season conditions.
 

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Surinder P Chahal
Croda Enterprise Ltd., Technical Director for Enterprise Technologies
and Technical Director for Croda’s Suncare, Biopolymers & Polymers

Biography:
Dr. Surinder Chahal studied chemistry and chemical technology at the University of Bradford in the UK, completing a thesis on organophosphorus acids for hydrometallurgical extraction in 1987. He then joined Croda as development chemist and spent the first four years optimizing the fermentation process for producing lactic acid. He moved into the personal care area of the business, focusing on specialty proteins for cosmetic use, and is recognized as Croda’s expert in this technology.

Dr. Chahal has presented on the subject of specialty proteins on many occasions at various venues around the world. He was the winner of the Lester Conrad award in 2000, given by the Australian Society of Cosmetic Chemists. He has also authored and co-authored of a number of scientific papers and articles and is the inventor and co-inventor on a number of patents.

Dr. Chahal currently has a dual role within Croda as Technical Director for Enterprise Technologies (a corporate research unit looking at developing and acquiring new technologies for the global business including further developing Croda’s interests in biotechnology), and as Technical Director for Croda’s Suncare, Biopolymers & Polymers business unit.

Abstract:
An overview of CRODA and interest in industrial (non-food uses) of Oilseeds and FA’s
Croda is a leading UK based specialty ingredients manufacturer serving Personal Care, Home Care, Health Care, Crop Care, Polymer Additive and Lubricant markets. Over 70% of the raw materials used by Croda are naturally derived and include woolgrease, plant and marine triglycerides and proteins. The presentation will give an overview of Croda and its global technologies with particular focus on the use of oils derived from natural sources for novel oleochemical manufacture and use.

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Zenneth Faye
Executive Manager, Milligan Bio-Tech Inc.

Biography:
Zenneth was raised on the family farm near West Bend, SK in the Parkland Region of the Province. He received his Bachelor of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Following his graduation he was employed by John Deere Canada Ltd. as an Agricultural Engineer working in the agricultural division across Canada and the United States.

Zenneth and his wife Cindy returned to the family farm full time in 1978. He started a small manufacturing business designing and building cattle handling and feeding apparatus. The farming operation consists of direct seeding crops like spring wheat, winter wheat, oats, barley, flax, peas, triticale, Canola and alfalfa for hay and occasionally experimenting with lentils, buckwheat, sunola, soybeans, and corn. Aside from cropping they also run a 100 cow commercial herd of beef cattle. Having this extensive background of Agriculture has been the main driving force to creating value added production for producers and rural initiatives, like inland grain terminals and Bio-based co-products.

Zenneth became a director of the Sask. Canola Growers Association in the mid 1980’s, during which time he worked on various committees, one of which was to establish the Sask. Canola Development Commission, which administers a check-off fund from Canola producers in Saskatchewan. He was appointed to the board and became the first Chairman. He then served for three terms on the Commission in various capacities, including the market development area where he promoted “Non-food uses of Canola” to whomever would listen. This is where the start of Bio-diesel “OIL” exploration began in Canada. While on the Board of the Commission, he also served on various positions with the Canola Council of Canada such as Vice-Chair of Market Development committee. He also represented Canola producers on other federal and provincial committees, such as: Vice-chair of the Canadian New Uses Council and Co-chaired the Sask. Non Food Uses section of the Agri-Food Innovation Fund. Zenneth then became Western Vice-president of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.

Other accomplishments include:
• Advisor to the NorthEast Terminal, a producer owned inland grain terminal, at its early stages of conception and startup.
• Serving on the federal Blue Ribbon Panel of the P.F.R.A. developing the document ‘Prairie landscapes for Western Canada’
• Advisor/consultant to Bio-diesel projects in Canada like Milligan Bio-Tech, of Foam Lake, SK, which was the first commercial Canola Bio-diesel plant in Canada. He is now the Executive Manager / Project Engineer of the Company.
• Presentations on Bio-diesel and Non -Food Uses of Canola to audiences across Canada, United States, Europe and Australia earning him the honour of sometimes being referred to as Mr. Bio-Diesel.
• Honoured with a life time membership to the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists.

Abstract:
The Practical Challenges of Commercialization
Milligan Bio-Tech Inc. has always been a foreword thinking company and developer. Starting from concept in 1991, the company has built its reputation on product quality and adding value.

This presentation will look at the steps to commercialization: from the concept stage to research to scale up to optimization and finally to production. It will also highlight the growing pains associated with being the first in a new industry regarding policy, standards, regulations, etc. at times making one ask the question “Is it really worth it?”

The presentation will highlight in more detail, the good, the bad and the ugly of Milligan Bio-Tech’s commercialization developments.

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Ramon Gonzalez
Assistant Professor, Departments of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Bioengineering,
Rice University, Houston, Texas

Biography:
Dr. Ramon Gonzalez is the William W. Akers Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University. His research interests include metabolic engineering, systems biology, and microbial and cell cultures. One of the main contributions of Professor Gonzalez laboratory has been the finding that the bacterium Escherichia coli can anaerobically ferment glycerol, a previously unknown metabolic capability of this organism. This fundamental discovery laid the foundation for the development of a platform of technologies to convert glycerol to higher-value products, thus establishing a new path to the production of biofuels and biochemicals. In 2006, Dr. Gonzalez received the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career (CAREER) award to conduct research in this area.
 
 Dr. Gonzalez received a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the Central University of Las Villas, Cuba (1993), M.Sc. in Biochemical Engineering from the Catholic University of Valparaiso, Chile (1999), Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Chile (2001), and was a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Florida (2001-2002). He is also a licensed professional engineer. Dr. Gonzalez started his academic career in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Iowa State University, and soon after moved to Rice University where he established the Metabolic Engineering and Systems Biology Laboratory.

Abstract:
Harnessing the Microbial Fermentation of Glycerol for the Production of Fuels and Chemicals
Glycerol has become an inexpensive and abundant carbon source due to its generation as an inevitable by-product of biofuels production. Given the high degree of reduction of carbon in glycerol, fuels and reduced chemicals could be produced from glycerol at yields higher than those obtained from common sugars. Fully realizing this potential, however, requires the metabolism of glycerol in the absence of external electron acceptors (i.e. fermentative metabolism). Unfortunately, only a small group of microorganisms, most of which are not amenable to industrial applications, was known to be capable of fermentative utilization of glycerol prior to our work. In these organisms, the ability to synthesize 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) has long been considered the metabolic property that enables to ferment glycerol. For example, Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, workhorses of modern biotechnology, do not have the capacity to synthesize 1,3-PDO and therefore have been deemed unable to conduct glycerol fermentation. Following our recent discovery that the previous view was incorrect and that although E. coli cannot synthesize 1,3-PDO it can indeed ferment glycerol in the absence of external electron acceptors, we have engineered this organism for the conversion of glycerol to fuels and chemicals. Several biocatalysts have been developed for the production of ethanol, hydrogen, formate, succinate, lactate, and 3- and 4-carbon diols from glycerol-rich streams generated during biofuels production. This talk will discuss our latest work related to the harnessing of microbial fermentation of glycerol for the production of fuels and chemicals.

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Jack Grushcow
President and CEO of Linnaeus Plant Sciences Inc.

Biography:
Jack Grushcow was the founder and CEO of Consumers Software Inc., one of Canada’s largest software companies. He went from a one man start-up to world leader in the development and marketing of Electronic Mail software. Consumers Software Inc. had sales in excess of $20 million and delivered a 30% pretax profit while maintaining an annual R&D budget in excess of $3 million. The company was acquired by Microsoft in 1991, in what was then the largest transaction of its kind. The technology developed by Consumers Software provides the underpinnings of the Microsoft Mail family of products including MS Outlook.

Mr. Grushcow served on the Science Council of British Columbia from 1991-1993. He was selected as one of British Columbia’s top business people under the age of 40 by B.C. Business Magazine and has been awarded Canada’s top export development award. He has authored three books on the subject of applying computer systems to business applications with Prentice-Hall and two books in the area of analyzing commodity futures with John Wiley & Sons.

Jack Grushcow is a founder, President and CEO of Linnaeus Plant Sciences Inc. The mission of Linnaeus is to create value-added, renewable, biodegradable industrial oils in temperate climate oil seed crops. These new oils represent alternatives to current petrochemicals and reduce the refining expense and pollution that often accompanies them. In the future, Linnaeus expects to engineer completely novel oils which will form the basis of the next century’s exciting new materials, including specialty plastics, nylons, lubricants and non-polluting fuels.

A direct benefit of this technology will be significant value creation for farmers, offering increased revenue potential. The introduction of new value-added crops to Canadian farmers should provide significantly higher returns per acre and provide the growers with an alternative crop in times of over capacity in other traditional crops.

Linnaeus is the network lead of the Industrial Oil Seed Network. This is a large network funded under the Federal Agricultural Bioproducts Initiative Program. Its purpose is to develop and commercialize oil seeds for industrial applications. The network includes expertise in molecular biology, agronomy, Tribology, GHG policy and biorefining.

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Dave Hickling
Vice President, Canola Utilization
Canola Council of Canada

Biography:
Dr. Dave Hickling is Vice President, Canola Utilization at the Canola Council of Canada. In that role he manages Canola Council canola utilization activity related to research and market development. Prior to joining the Canola Council of Canada in 2002, Dave worked for the Canadian International Grains Institute from 1990 to 2002 as Director of Feed Technology. From 1981 to 1989, Dave worked for Cargill Ltd. in their Nutrena Feeds Division, in feed sales and as Senior Nutritionist in Canada.

Dr. Hickling received a B.Sc. degree in biochemistry in 1976 and a M.Sc. degree in poultry and fish nutrition in 1981 from the University of British Columbia. He received a Ph.D. in poultry nutrition (biological modeling) in 1990 from the University of Manitoba.

Abstract:
Challenges and Success in Marketing the Growing Amount of Canola Meal
As the Canadian canola crushing industry expands, the production of canola meal is expected to increase from 2.5 million tonnes currently to 4.5 million tonnes by 2015. There is a risk that canola meal prices could be depressed by this increased supply unless current high value markets are expanded and new higher value canola meal products are developed. The Canadian canola industry has initiated a two-pronged research and development strategy to meet this challenge:

1. Research and development to expand canola meal use in high value dairy markets, especially in the United States. The dramatically expanded use of canola meal for feeding dairy cattle in California is a remarkable success story.

2. Increase the energy value of canola meal for poultry by 10%. This is a key 2015 objective for the Canadian canola industry as it will increase the value of canola meal in poultry and swine feeds (which have a lower canola meal value than dairy feeds). A research collaboration is underway to look at the effects of Canola Breeding (lower fibre), Processing (lower temperature, particle control and separations) and Feed Enzymes (increase nutrient digestibility) on canola meal energy content.

Activities and research results in both of these areas will be presented at the workshop.
 

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Jan Jaworski
Vice President for Research,
Full Member and Principal Investigator at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

Biography:
Dr. Jaworski is a leading researcher in plant oils and seed biology. His current area of interest includes the use of biotechnology to alter the metabolism of oilseeds to produce useful chemicals such as functionalized fatty acids. His research also includes the use of seeds as feed stocks for BioDiesel. These studies involve examining alternative plant sources as well as increasing the amount of oil produced by seeds.

Dr. Jaworski received a BA in Chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross in 1968 and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Purdue University in 1972. Following postdoctoral research at the University of California, Davis, he joined the faculty of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department of Miami University in 1974. In 2002, he moved to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St Louis to pursue research full time.

Abstract:
Oilseeds as Factories for Renewable Fuels and Materials
The major chemical companies of the world are heavily dependent on petroleum as their source of feed stocks. As the global supplies of petroleum diminish and its price rises, the cost of these petrochemicals will inevitably rise as well. The plant kingdom provides a rich source of diverse oleochemicals that have the potential to replace petrochemicals as nations move toward green economies.

This presentation will discuss the progress for the production of two oleochemicals, omega hydroxy fatty acids and wax esters, in oilseed crops. In addition, there will be brief discussion of the utility of Camelina sativa for the production of oleochemicals.

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Duane Johnson
Great Plains: The Camelina Company

Biography:
Dr. Duane Johnson joined Great Plains from Montana State University where he served as the Director of the Montana Agricultural Innovation Center and the Institute for Biobased Products. His work has led to the development of a number of new crops including quinoa, blue corn, and canola. Dr. Johnson has established research efforts in essential oil crops, alternative cereals and products; and enhanced-value forages for western Montana. He has a number of patents to his name including systems for hybrid quinoa production, canola-based motor oils and a patent covering all internal combustion engines utilizing bio-based motor oils. His current development emphasis has been in commercializing environmentally benign lubricants and biobased fuels derived from vegetable oils. His research in camelina as a low cost source oil for biodiesel manufacture has brought Montana to the forefront of this cost-competitive fuel.

Abstract:
Developing Camelina as a Source of Renewable Biofuels
Camelina, an ancient crop of Europe, has been a source of food and fiber for 3,000-5,000 years. It was introduced to North America in the mid 20th century but did not develop as a commercial crop until the 21st century. Today, camelina is being evaluated as a nutritional source of omega 3 fatty acids but is primarily being considered as a low-cost source of biofuels. Camelina is the first of what is being called the “the second generation” biodiesel- an oil source which does not compete with food oils. General agronomic practices will be described.

Camelina oil, although rich in polyunsaturated oils, can be modified to provide a quality biodiesel. Recently, a joint U.S. Department of Energy and Great Plains Oil project has converted camelina oil, not only into biodiesel but also military-grade jet fuel, conventional diesel and gasoline.

Camelina meal, the remaining fraction of the camelina after oil extraction, remains problematic. Approved as a feed additive in Europe, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has only recently approved its feeding in poultry at 10% and upgraded feed rations in cattle to 5%. Additional uses of the meal as a fuel and fertilizer are being explored.

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Mel Luetkens
COO, Elevance Renewable Sciences

Biography:
Mel has over 23 years of experience enhancing value delivery in the chemical industry across global operations in Amoco, BP, Innovene and most recently INEOS. Formerly, Europe Technology Director – Innovene, Mel was responsible for leading an organization of 330 technologists across five European sites to meet the process engineering, catalysis, technical services, technical development, and Health, Safety, and Environmental objectives. His background includes P&L management, R&D leadership, new business & product development, strategy development and execution within Amoco, BP, Innovene and INEOS. Mel has a PhD from the University of Michigan and an MBA from University of Chicago.

Abstract:
Elevance Renewable Sciences is a leader in transforming renewable plant based oils into sustainable solutions for specialty applications. The core technology, olefin metathesis, is based on the Nobel Prize winning research of Dr. Robert Grubbs of Caltech. The metathesis catalyst is used to modify natural oils and thus align properties with the performance requirements in markets such as functional oils, antimicrobials, and additive applications. Elevance, which expects to be a billion dollar company in the next decade, is bridging the renewables and chemicals industries to create high performance waxes, functional oils, antimicrobials, lubricants, additives, and other chemicals.

Elevance has established strategic initiatives in three areas critical to the successful commercialization of renewable chemicals: feedstocks, technology and market development and it will provide insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the development of this emerging industry. To be successful, renewable based businesses will need to identify and source the “Ideal” Feedstock for manufacturing into specific products. The feed stocks will need to be scalable, have positive environmental impacts and be consistent in their chemical structure. The prize is large for producers of global vegetable oils as Elevance alone is targeting markets which would generate nearly 2.9 million pounds of renewable feedstock demand.

Our success in the development of renewable based products requires collaboration and partnership. Our collaborations focus on leveraging critical skills, infrastructure, and technology to efficiently deliver innovative products aligned with market requirements. Additional partnerships allow us to efficiently manufacture, expand product scale and diversity, and access a global market. Elevance will provide examples of how we are implementing this model to achieve rapid commercialization of new products in our functional oils platform.

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Peter B.E. McVetty
Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba

Biography:

• Ph.D. in plant genetics/plant breeding from the University of Manitoba.

• Joined the Department of Plant Science at the University of Manitoba as a plant geneticist / cultivar developer in 1979.

• Research specialties include conventional, herbicide tolerant and hybrid canola/rapeseed cultivar development and SHEAR germplasm development.

• Developed or co-developed numerous (> 20) cultivars of faba beans, conventional and herbicide tolerant canola; conventional and herbicide tolerant high erucic acid rapeseed.

• Teaches Plant Genetics and Plant Breeding courses.

• Trained large numbers (> 20) of HQP in plant genetics/plant breeding.

• Published numerous papers (>100) and book chapters in several different plant science research areas.

• Served as an Associate Editor for the Canadian Journal of Plant Science for the 1998-2003 period.

• Served on the NSERC Strategic Biosciences B grant selection panel for the 2002-2004 period.

• Won several University of Manitoba Merit Awards for teaching, research and service.

• Won an NSERC/Conference Board of Canada Synergy Award ($25,000) for HEAR R&D in collaboration
  with Bunge Canada in 2001.

• Appeared on the University of Manitoba’s 125th anniversary stamp featuring canola/rapeseed research,
  issued in February 2002.

• Currently Professor, Department Head and Senior Chair in the NSERC/Bunge Canada / DL Seeds / MCGA Industrial Research Chair in High Erucic Acid Rapeseed R&D program.
   

Abstract:
High Erucic Acid Rapeseed (HEAR) cultivar development at the University of Manitoba: An update
HEAR is quality improved rapeseed with higher erucic acid content in the oil and lower glucosinolate content in the meal. HEAR cultivar development continually evolves and progresses in response to producer requirements, competition from canola cultivars and changes in end-use market demands.

New HEAR cultivars are regularly registered and released, new HEAR breeding methods are steadily developed as new technologies become available to plant breeders, and new HEAR breeding objectives are set as end-use HEAR markets change. The presentation will update recent developments in HEAR cultivar development at the University of Manitoba.

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Rex Newkirk
Director of Biofuels and Feed at the Canadian International Grains Institute

Biography:
Dr. Rex Newkirk is Director of Biofuels and Feed at the Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. CIGI is a not for profit institute that supports the utilization of Canadian Field Crops through educational programming and technical support. Rex is responsible for providing programming and technical support in the areas of feed and biofuel industries. Rex was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Saskatchewan for his work in the area of canola processing and its interactions with nutrient utilization of canola meal. Prior to joining CIGI in 2003, he was a Professional Research Associate in the department of Animal and Poultry Science at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Newkirk has developed and delivered numerous programs for participants from all over the world. He has also been an invited speaker at seminars and conferences in many regions of the worlds including Canada, United States, China, Taiwan, Japan, Egypt, Norway, Denmark, Mexico and Brazil. Currently Rex is leading a CIGI initiative to support the emerging biofuels industry and has conducted numerous biodiesel courses across Canada with the CIGI portable biodiesel demonstration plant.

Rex is also a co-founder of MCN bioproducts a company that developed the technology to extract protein from Canola for use in aquaculture feeds. The first commercial plant is nearing completion in Arborfield, SK (CanPro Ingredients Ltd) and will be processing 107 T/day of canola seed and producing a canola protein concentrate for the aquaculture and livestock industries. MCN was a recipient of assistance from Ag West Bio. Ag West Bio provided assistance with the development of a business plan and financial assistance to conduct the first large scale piloting production of the products that led to full scale commercial production.

Abstract:
Biodiesel opportunities in the West- Where are they?
Biodiesel production offers the potential to create a new market for our oil seeds and rendered fats in Canada. If the 2% Canadian mandate comes into effect in 2012, it will require over 500 million L of biodiesel annually to meet the requirement. Currently Canada’s biodiesel annual production capacity is approximately 110 million L, most of which is found in Ontario and Quebec. The Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) has been providing training and demonstration in the production and use of Biodiesel for 2 years and has had over 1800 people attend our courses from across Canada. In addition our “Flower Power” biodiesel demonstration trailer has been displayed at numerous trade shows and public events providing access to information on biodiesel to hundreds of thousands of the general public. The objective of the biodiesel program is to enhance awareness of biodiesel as well as to stimulate production of the product in Canada. Through this activity, we have observed the opportunities and challenges before the Canadian biodiesel industry. This presentation will discuss some of those challenges and we will present our thoughts on the opportunities for the industry in Western Canada. The CIGI “Flower Power” Trailer will also be on display on the second day of the conference offering you the opportunity to observe oilseed extraction and biodiesel production first hand. On Thursday afternoon, you also have the opportunity to attend an optional workshop where you can convert some of your own seed or oil into a small sample of biodiesel.

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Martin Reaney
SMA Chair of Lipid Quality & Utilization, University of Saskatchewan

Biography:
The afflicted presenter, Dr. Reaney, holds a research Chair with a long and misleading title (the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Chair of Lipid Quality and Utilization) at the University of Saskatchewan. While the SMA chair is mandated to develop new technology for oilseed processing and producing commercial bioproducts with enhanced value Dr. Reaney continually digresses into the study of minor and irritating subjects like bitter peptides. The hoped for commercial activity resulting from this research is intended to generate wealth for the Canadian agriculture sector. The sector, has perhaps, waited for too long. Dr. Reaney works with industry, if they will have him, and has worked with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (1990-2004). He has filed 20 patents of which many are in use by Canadian and US industry. Dr. Reaney's processes are used by industry in commercial production of biodiesel, conjugated linoleic acid, ionic fluid catalysts, feed ingredients, photoprotective compounds, dust control agents, fertilizer solutions, lubricants and fatty acids.

Abstract:
A Series of Unfortunate Peptides
“If you have ever peeled an onion, then you know that the first thin, papery layer reveals another thin, papery layer, and that layer reveals another, and another, and before you know it you have hundreds of layers all over the kitchen table and thousands of tears in your eyes, sorry that you ever started peeling in the first place and wishing that you had left the onion alone to wither away on the shelf of the pantry while you went on with your life, even if that meant never again enjoying the complicated and overwhelming taste of this strange and bitter vegetable.”

In the same way, the presentation is like an onion, and if you insist on attending the presentation, your only reward will be a PowerPoint presentation of misery and the bitter aftertaste of peptides. Even if you read this abstract, it is not too late to stop peeling away the layers, and avoid the presentation altogether while you contemplate something less complicated and overwhelming. I'm sorry to tell you this, but that is how the story goes.

Cyclolinopeptides are hydrophobic compounds that were mistakenly thought to occur in low concentrations in flax seed and as a precipitate from flax oil. With more effort than it was worth we achieved both solid-liquid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction of cyclolinopeptides from flax oil. In total, 9 cyclolinopeptides were isolated from flax oil and identified by mass spectra, absorption spectra, NMR and FTIR. The yields of these cyclolinopeptides were often an order of magnitude higher than reported for flax meal and seed reported by others. Flax oil and meal products may have sufficient cyclolinopeptides to be biologically active. The potential contribution of cyclic peptides to the observed bioactivity of flax oil and meal will be discussed.

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Colin Rosengren
President, Canpressco Products Inc.

Biography:

Colin Rosengren has operated a modern innovative grain farm at Midale SK since earning his degree in Agriculture from the U of S in 1997. Together with four other farmers and businessmen, he formed Canpressco Products Inc. in 2007 to fill a consumer demand for healthier and more natural products, produced in a sustainable and traceable manner. Colin believes in a better world through biology rather than chemistry when it comes to his farm operation and he is a pioneer in sustainable low energy production practices such as intercropping.

Abstract:

From Soil To Oil

Colin’s presentation will discuss the production practices of Canpressco and its growers from the field through to the final product. The talk will also focus on the high end properties of camelina oil and its fit in a wide variety of markets. Hear how Canpressco is producing this ancient oilseed in a natural, sustainable, and traceable manner.

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David Taylor
NRC Plant for Health and Wellness Program

Biography:
Dr David Taylor has been active in the field of oilseed biochemistry, biotechnology and oil modification at PBI for 21 years. His research focuses on the production of value-added oils as industrial feedstocks or for human consumption using biotechnology. He is also actively involved in research to improve the oil content of a number of oilseed crops and is an advocate for adoption of Brassica carinata as a new platform for delivery of customized bio-industrial oils. His current projects for modifying fatty acid composition are related to high erucic, high linolenic and, as we will hear today, high nervonic acid.

Abstract:
Engineering 24:1 in seed oil
Nervonic acid 24:1 D15 (cis-tetracos-15-enoic acid) is a Very Long-Chain Monounsaturated Fatty Acid (VLCMFA) and exists in nature as an elongation product of oleic acid. There is an increasing interest in production of high nervonic acid oils for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and industrial applications. Using a PCR approach, we have isolated a gene from Cardamine graeca L. which encodes a 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS), the first component of the elongation complex involved in synthesis of nervonic acid. Expression of the Cardamine KCS in yeast resulted in biosynthesis of nervonic acid, which is not normally present in yeast cells. We transformed Arabidopsis and Brassica carinata with the Cardamine KCS under the control of the seed-specific promoter, napin. The T3 generations of transgenic Arabidopsis and B. carinata plants expressing the Cardamine KCS showed that seed-specific expression resulted in up to a 63-fold increase in nervonic acid proportions in Arabidopsis seed oil, and 15-fold increase in nervonic acid proportions in B. carinata seed oil. The highest nervonic acid level in transgenic B. carinata lines reached 44%, with only 6% of residual erucic acid. In contrast, similar transgenic expression of the Cardamine KCS in high erucic B. napus resulted in 45% nervonic acid but with almost 20% residual erucic acid; the latter is too high for human or animal consumption. Thus, the Cardamine KCS B. carinata high nervonic/highly reduced erucic transgenic seed oils will be the most suitable for testing in pharmaceutical/nutraceutical applications to improve human and animal health.

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Peter Welters
CEO of Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH, Nettetal, Germany

Biography:
After his studies in Chemistry, Biochemistry and Food Chemistry in Germany, Dr. Peter Welters spent four years doing research at the Max-Planck-Institute for Plant Breeding Research to complete his diploma and PhD thesis. During this time he worked at the Dept. of Prof. Jeff Schell on promoter control in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis of Rhizobia and legumes. Afterwards he spent three years at the University of California, San Diego in the laboratories of Prof. Maarten Chrispeels and Prof. Scott Em where he did basic research in protein transport regulation in plants and yeasts. After seven years of experience in molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry, he was chosen as head of the project "Production of pharmaceutical proteins in plants“ in Rouen, France. His experience and innovative ideas led to the foundation of "Biotechnology and Molecular Biology“ which was transformed into Phytowelt GmbH in 1998. As Founder and CEO of Phytowelt GmbH he was asked to become CEO of GreenTec GmbH in 2002. Green Tec GmbH is a spin-off company from the Max-Planck-Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, founded in 1997 by the four directors of the Max-Planck-Institute (Prof. J. Schell, Prof. Dr. K. Hahlbrock, Prof. Dr. F. Salamini, Prof. Dr. H. Saedler). Since January 2006, after 10 years experience as CEO, Dr. Peter Welters is CEO of Phytowelt GreenTechnologies GmbH, a fusion of GreenTec GmbH and Phytowelt GmbH located in Nettetal (Head Office) and Cologne (R & D). The company offers laboratory and know-how services in Agbiotechnology (e.g. somatic hybridisation, tissue culture, marker technologies, contract studies and project coordination). Peter Welters is also a Board Member of BioCologne e.V. and Founding Member of CLIB 2021, Germany.

Abstract:
Plantdustrial – linking plant and industrial biotechnology
Already now, 5 – 10 % of basic material for the chemical industry stems from renewable resources, mainly plant material. Due to a steadily increasing oil price, shrinking oil reserves and a need to reduce greenhouse gases, renewable resources from plants will increase in importance over the coming years. Germany, 4th in the world for production of chemicals, will take a leading role in these efforts because of high investments of the chemical industry in R&D.

The increased application of renewable resources will lead to new developments where plant derived basic materials will be used for new applications or will substitute petro-chemically produced polymers, intermediates and small organic molecules. These developments are only possible if all knowledge in biotechnology will be used and will gain momentum only through the collaboration and synergistic actions of many disciplines in addition to plant science. Thus, it requires the formation of  diversified clusters with partners from academia, large international corporations and SMEs. Good examples for such kind of activities are the European Technology Platform for sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) and the Cluster Industrielle Biotechnologie 2021 (CLIB2021) which will be presented in more detail. CLIB2021 members are from chemical industry, Biotech-SMEs and research institutes from all over Germany. CLIB2021 focuses on projects and technologies relevant to the chemical industry, actively networking and collaborating with partners worldwide. A special focus is on monomers, polymers, intermediates and their functions in a wide
range of uses.

The formation of clusters with a broad array of technologies and the implementation of the substantial information available from plants will enable partners to generate value over the whole supply chain improving sustainability, and the impact of renewable resources, thereby reducing cost and time to market. Using this wealth of opportunities will enable us to deliver solutions for the challenges of today and the coming decades.
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Sponsors

Thank you to Gold Sponsor Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for their generous contribution through the ACAAFS funding program;



and to the Canadian Consulate General - Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade for their assistance.

Thank you to Gold Sponsor Genome Prairie.

Genome Prairie is the leading organization for support and management of large-scale genomics and proteomics research projects in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. With its partners, Genome Prairie has supported more than $120M of research activity in plant, animal and human genomics, bioinformatics, instrumentation development and bioethics since 2000.

Genome Prairie works collaboratively with all levels of government, universities, industry and Genome Canada to implement national strategies in genomics and proteomics research to benefit all Canadians.
 

Thank you to Mustard Capital Inc. for supplying mustard seed oil for the biodiesel mini-workshop.
Mustard Capital Inc. (MCI) operates a dry mustard milling facility in the heart of Western Canada’s mustard producing region. This facility provides processed, high quality yellow, oriental and brown mustard ingredients to customers around the world.

Thank you to Canpressco. for supplying camelina oil for the biodiesel mini-workshop.
Canpressco is a farmer owned camelina processing facility located in southeast Saskatchewan, Canada. They produce meal and oil from camelina seed, using the most sustainable and environmentally responsible farming practices. Their products are 100% traceable back to the field they were grown on to ensure a quality product.
 

Sponsorship opportunities
Sponsorship offerings for the Plant Bio-Industrial Oils Workshop will provide varying levels of recognition and profile to an exclusive audience of key industry stakeholders. Research, industry and government representatives will comprise the delegates for this workshop. YOU decide how best to present your company to the bio-oils industry!

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Gloria Galenza at 306-668-2659.

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Media
We welcome credentialed, working journalists of the general media to attend Plant Bio-Industrial Oils Workshop. Media registration is complimentary for credentialed members of the news media. Public relations executives and consultants, authors, researchers and editors of trade association publications and newsletters may not register as media.

Conference organizers will review all media registrations for authenticity and have the authority to decline registration of persons who do not meet eligibility criteria. Conference organizers will contact you concerning the status of your registration request.

For media guidelines, interview scheduling, or other information, please contact Jackie Robin, Communications Director of Ag-West Bio at 306-668-2656.

Thank you for your interest and participation!

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Contact
Ag-West Bio Inc.
101 - 111 Research Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
S7N 3R2
Tel: 306-975-1939
Fax: 306-975-1966
E-mail: agwest@agwest.sk.ca

Visit the Ag-West Bio Inc. website:
http://www.agwest.sk.ca/


Ag-West Bio Inc. is Saskatchewan's catalyst for building Canada's most vibrant life sciences economy.

Click here to check out previous conferences in this series.
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Funding for Ag-West Bio
is provided by:

Thank you to our sponsors:

with assistance from:
 

Funding for Ag-West Bio is provided by Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.