Breaking Barriers, Building What Comes Next | 2025-26 Industry Overview

This article was originally published in our 2025-26 Annual report. Click on the link to explore our annual report.

To build a stronger, more resilient economy, Canada needs more than innovation alone. It needs the kind of collaboration Ag-West Bio has championed for decades: bringing the right people together, connecting ideas to opportunity, and helping promising ventures move forward.

Through a year marked by trade disruption and global uncertainty, Canadians have been asking how to strengthen productivity and competitiveness. Innovation and entrepreneurship are essential, but they do not succeed in isolation. They grow when ecosystems are connected, knowledge is shared, and organizations work together to remove barriers and create opportunity.

That is one of the clearest messages emerging from Ag-West Bio’s recent needs assessment of Saskatchewan’s ag-bio ecosystem. The assessment confirmed that the province is rich in assets, talent and potential, but that stronger coordination, clearer pathways and deeper collaboration are needed to help the ecosystem reach its full potential.

As Mike Wonnick, Ag-West Bio’s interim CEO, puts it, “The opportunity now is not simply to add programs, but to strengthen coordination, clarity and collaboration.” That insight captures both the challenge and the opportunity ahead: Saskatchewan needs to connect what already exists more effectively and lead with greater intention.

Collaboration is in Ag-West Bio’s DNA

Ag-West Bio has worked this way from the start. Since its founding, it has helped build Saskatchewan’s ag-bio ecosystem by convening partners, identifying gaps, and creating connections that help ideas grow into industries. Its role has often been quiet, but its impact has been lasting.

Dr. Peter W.B. Phillips, Distinguished Professor at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and Founding Director of the Centre for the Study of Science and Innovation Policy, has followed Ag-West Bio’s work for decades. He says, “Ag-West Bio has had a significant influence in getting this industry to start to move towards different technology platforms, different product spaces. They have been quietly active at the beginning of initiatives that are now big players in our sector. But they aren’t always the ones that get up and take a bow at the launch. Their role isn’t always remembered.”

Wonnick sees that same pattern across Ag-West Bio’s 37-year history. “We look to fill gaps in the industry, and those gaps have changed in the last decades. We’ve been at the table for the creation of several initiatives, such as the Global Institute on Food Security (GIFS), Protein Industries Canada (PIC) and the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, that continue to give back to the Saskatchewan economy.” That ability to work across organizations, sectors and priorities is not only part of Ag-West Bio’s legacy; it is one of its greatest strengths for the future.

What growing companies need

For startups and scaling companies, collaboration is a practical requirement for growth. Jeremy Lang, CEO of the Global Agri-food Advancement Partnership (GAAP) and Director of Business Development at Ag-West Bio, says, “Ag-Bio Startups need more than funding. They need access to affordable infrastructure, specialized equipment, industry expertise, and strong networks to help move ideas from concept to commercialization.”

Saskatchewan has made meaningful progress in building those supports through its research institutions, industry partners, startup supports and organizations such as GAAP. But the needs assessment also underscored that no single organization can provide everything a company needs. Lang says, “A collaborative ecosystem is one where research, industry, government and commercialization hubs work together to support companies at different stages of growth.”

GAAP’s flexible access to labs, equipment, greenhouse space, offices and pilot-scale infrastructure is one example of that support in practice. Just as important is the way it connects companies into a broader system of expertise, infrastructure and opportunity. As Lang says, “When a company wins in the ecosystem, we all win.”

Why stronger collaboration?

If Canada wants stronger productivity, it must create better conditions for innovators to succeed. That means listening closely to the businesses and producers the sector serves and ensuring entrepreneurs can access the best advice, partnerships and supports available. Dave Smardon, CEO of Bioenterprise, says the farming community must remain connected to innovation so that what companies create truly meets real-world needs.

He also points to a broader challenge.  “Regulatory hurdles and funding support remain important issues to solve, but beyond these, critical access to expertise, networks, and commercialization support is often limited by geography.” In a country as large and regionally diverse as Canada, that means finding better ways to connect provincial ecosystems and ensure companies can access support across borders.

Smardon believes Ag-West Bio has a vital role to play in that work.  “Ag-West Bio stands out within Canada’s innovation ecosystem. It has deep experience, strong regional relationships, and a proven network of mentors and partners. Those strengths create value not only for Saskatchewan innovators, but for organizations and entrepreneurs across the country.” A recent memo of understanding with Bioenterprise Canada is laying the groundwork for that interprovincial collaboration.

Wonnick agrees. “Our innovation challenges impact the entire country’s productivity, so to really make a difference, we need to seek out interprovincial and national partnerships to find ways to work together.” That is where Ag-West Bio can lead next: not by doing everything itself, but by helping strengthen the relationships, pathways and partnerships that allow the ecosystem to work better as a whole.

Saskatchewan’s opportunity is global

Saskatchewan’s strengths matter far beyond the province. Bill Greuel, Deputy Minister of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, doesn’t mince words: “The world needs more of Saskatchewan’s high-quality agricultural products, and the province’s ag-biotech sector is positioned to deliver.”

“Collaboration and connection will be key to getting there. Great things are happening here in Saskatchewan, driven by talented people, world class institutions and strong infrastructure, along with innovative producers and engaged stakeholders across the sector. Organizations like Ag-West Bio continue to build on that success while raising Saskatchewan’s profile globally.”

That opportunity is especially strong in value-added food, beverage and ingredient processing. Monica Pollard, Ag-West Bio’s Director of Ecosystem Development, believes Saskatchewan has the agricultural strength, innovation capacity and entrepreneurial spirit to become a global leader in those areas.

She says, “Industry feedback consistently highlights the importance of networking, knowledge transfer, shared infrastructure, and coordinated business supports. A collaborative environment builds trust, reduces silos, accelerates innovation and strengthens Saskatchewan’s ability to compete globally in food, beverage, and ingredient processing.”

The needs assessment echoed that message. The ecosystem has tremendous potential, but companies need clearer pathways, stronger connections and more coordinated supports to grow successfully. This is exactly the kind of challenge Ag-West Bio is built to address.

Leading what comes next 

To meet the needs of Saskatchewan, Canada and global markets, innovators need more than ambition. They need a starting point that understands the landscape, helps them navigate complexity and connects them to the right people and opportunities.

Greuel adds, “There is a clear need within the sector for a central hub that reduces fragmentation, improves coordination and provides practical solutions to help businesses, innovators and agricultural stakeholders navigate challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities. Ag-West Bio is well positioned to meet that need.”

That is the opportunity in front of Ag-West Bio. It has a long history of helping the ecosystem work better together, and the needs assessment makes clear that this role is more important than ever. By continuing to convene partners, strengthen connections and lead collaborative next steps, Ag-West Bio can help unlock the full potential of Saskatchewan’s ag-bio ecosystem and contribute to a stronger future for Canada and the world.