wpadmin – Page 6 – Applied Research and Innovation Office

Cannabis Courses and Programs Wafting Across Canadian University and College Campuses

Posted on July 26, 2019 by wpadminLeave a comment

Cannabis Courses and Programs Wafting Across Canadian University and College Campuses

July 26, 2019 – Call it higher education if you must.

But since cannabis was legalized in Canada last year, courses dedicated to the plant have taken root on college and university campuses across the country.

According to the Cannabis Council of Canada, at least 12 post-secondary schools have joined the budding educational boom, having launched programs — or announced plans to do so — covering everything from production research and training to marijuana law and business.

“In this sector it was going from amateur production to professional production … and that takes expertise,” says Rene Van Acker, dean of the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College.

“It’s like the difference between growing some tomatoes in your backyard and being a tomato supplier for Loblaws,” says Van Acker, whose school is in the process of opening the country’s largest cannabis program.

Another of the early entrants into the new cannabis league was Loyalist College, which sits on the western edge of Belleville off the Bay of Quinte.

“There’s an incredible gap in the sector as it relates to knowledge in terms of the science of cannabis, and applying that knowledge to product development,” says Kari Kramp, head of Loyalist’s Cannabis Applied Science Program.

“We were able to fill that gap,” says Kramp, whose post-graduate course began last October. “It’s an innovative, dynamic hands-on program.”

College Cashes in on Cannabis at Technology Access Centre

Posted on June 21, 2019 by wpadminLeave a comment

College Cashes in on Cannabis at Technology Access Centre

Jun. 21, 2019 – Loyalist College has received two grants that will go straight into their Technology Access Centre. The school…

College Cashes in on Cannabis at Technology Access Centre

Posted on June 19, 2019 by wpadminLeave a comment

College Cashes in on Cannabis at Technology Access Centre

Jun. 19, 2019 – Loyalist College has received two grants that will go straight into their Technology Access Centre.

The school was given $1.75 million from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, along with $1 million through the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

College President Dr. Anne Marie Vaughan says the money goes to Loyalist’s Applied Research Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis.

She says the funding allows the college to do two things.

Vaughan says they are able to work with industry not only in this region, but across the country.

Vaughan says funding like this will be a staple to assisting the college to work with industry.

Loyalist College to Launch Canada’s First Technology Access Centre for Natural Products and Cannabis

Posted on June 13, 2019 by wpadminLeave a comment

Loyalist College to Launch Canada's First Technology Access Centre for Natural Products and Cannabis

Belleville, Ontario, June 13, 2019 – Loyalist College is the recipient of a $1,750,000 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) College and Community Innovation (CCI) Program grant over five years to launch Canada’s first Technology Access Centre (TAC) for natural products and cannabis. In addition, Loyalist received $1M through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) College-Industry Innovation Fund (CIIF) to add specialized equipment to the TAC.

Loyalist was one of 90 recipients at colleges, cégeps and polytechnics across the country to receive part of the $73M in funding, announced today by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, at Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario. Through the CCI Program and the CIIF, this investment will help post-secondary institutions partner directly with local employers to facilitate commercialization and transform the results of research and development into new technologies to help businesses expand and grow.

The rapid growth of Canada’s cannabis, hops and natural products sectors positions Loyalist’s Applied Research Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis (ARC) as a national innovation hub for small- to medium-sized enterprises. As a TAC, Loyalist will build on the ARC’s 15 years of natural product extraction expertise and analysis-based applied research. In transitioning to a TAC, Loyalist’s ARC will significantly increase the College’s capacity to lead applied research of commercially relevant natural products and cannabis, and to support innovation by enhancing industries’ access to sector-relevant expertise and technology.

The TAC initiative will cultivate an environment for College-industry partnerships to thrive while providing students with unparalleled opportunities for work-integrated learning; investigating extraction, isolation, and formulation; and product development. In partnership with the Quinte Economic Development Commission (QEDC), Loyalist will support the Bay of Quinte’s burgeoning natural products and cannabis sectors to generate regional socioeconomic benefits, and to provide opportunities for a new generation of innovators. Loyalist will also offer companies across Canada a supportive, community-oriented platform from which to enhance their productivity, expand their reach and augment their competitiveness in the global market.

Quotes

“NSERC values the tremendous contributions of Canada’s colleges in the research and innovation ecosystem. Today’s investment will enhance our country’s world-class research capacity, help businesses innovate to create growth, and train our next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs.”– Dr. Marc Fortin, Vice-President, Research Partnerships, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

“The power of research is exemplified when it is applied to tackle real-world problems. Whether addressing the development of novel agri-food products or expanding the frontiers of aerospace and manufacturing technologies, researchers at colleges and polytechnics are well equipped to partner with industry to help boost Canadian innovation.” – Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for Innovation

“We are very grateful for NSERC’s continued support and proud to be Canada’s first TAC for natural products and cannabis. Loyalist currently has more than 25 companies interested in applied research, and as our ARC transitions into a TAC, we will be able to meet their requirements while significantly extending our network to help more companies to innovate. Our Biosciences and Cannabis Applied Science students will have the advantage of being involved in ground-breaking research that propels Canada forward as the world leader in cannabis and natural product developments.” – Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Loyalist College President & CEO

“It’s great to see this NSERC and CFI funding come through for Loyalist College’s launch of Canada’s first TAC for research in natural products and cannabis. Being able to conduct research in a state-of-the-art facility means that students working in the College’s ARC will be able to build up their expertise in product analysis; which can then be applied directly to commercial development. This is just the beginning of seeing a new series of natural products being designed, assessed, made and delivered from our region.” – Neil R. Ellis, Member of Parliament for Bay of Quinte

“I am so proud to see the innovation that is driving research and economic development in our rural community through Loyalist College’s ARC. Innovation is key to Rural Sustainability and this investment will ensure that we are training the next generation in the latest technological advances. I congratulate them on their NSERC and CFI grant, and wish them all the best of success.” – Mike Bossio, Member of Parliament for Hastings—Lennox and Addington

“The Quinte Economic Development Commission is proud to be a supporting partner with Loyalist College on this important initiative that is aligned with economic development opportunities and priorities in the region. The TAC will support industry research and innovation for companies in key industry sectors as well as helping students develop in-demand skills and experience. Congratulations to the team at Loyalist on launching this important project.” – Chris King, Chief Executive Officer, Quinte Economic Development Commission

About Loyalist College’s Applied Research Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis
Loyalist College’s Applied Research Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis (ARC) is a state-of-the-art laboratory with expertise in clean technologies, including innovative supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and advanced analytical technologies. In January 2017, Loyalist was the first College in Canada to receive approval from Health Canada to investigate cannabis for research purposes. Committed to meeting the objectives of its partners, the ARC provides analysis of commercially relevant biologically active compounds, with applications in the food and beverage industry, functional food and natural health products, and cannabis industry.

About Loyalist College
Loyalist is Ontario’s Destination College, empowering students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. The College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. When it comes to Ontario college graduates getting jobs, Loyalist is the top College in the province, according to KPI results, released November 2018. Of 2016-17 Loyalist graduates, 90.8 percent were employed within six months after graduation. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com; including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses; and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 5.8 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $465 million annually to the regional economy – based on an October 2018 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist’s Belleville and Bancroft campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit YoureGoingPlaces.com.

– 30 –

Contact: Kerry Lorimer, Director, Marketing, Communications and Recruitment
Loyalist College, klorimer@loyalistcollege.com, 613-969-1913, ext. 2536

Ontario College Gets Federal Grants for Cannabis Program

Posted on June 13, 2019 by wpadminLeave a comment

Ontario College Gets Federal Grants for Cannabis Program

June 14, 2019 – Loyalist College in Belleville, Ont., says it will launch Canada’s first Technology Access Centre (TAC) for natural products and cannabisis after receiving a grant of $1.75-million grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) College and Community Innovation (CCI) program. In addition, Loyalist received $1-million through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) College-Industry Innovation Fund (CIIF) to add specialized equipment to the TAC.

Tech-Access Canada Welcomes 17 New Technology Access Centres into Our Family

Posted on June 13, 2019 by wpadminLeave a comment

Tech-Access Canada Welcomes 17 New Technology Access Centres into Our Family

BARRIE, ON, June 13, 2019 /CNW/ – Congratulations to the 17 new Technology Access Centres (TACs) awarded across the country by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, today at Georgian College as part of the College and Community Innovation Program and College-Industry Innovation Fund awards.

After the first grueling, merit-based Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)-administered competition in three years, the 17 new TACs were awarded to colleges and cégeps across the country from Kelowna, BC to Inuvik, NWT, to Rimouski, QC, bringing the total number of Canada’s Technology Access Centres to 47.

Congratulations as well to the six TACs across the country that were renewed with another five-year award, validating the Technology Access Centre model and joining the previous 15 TACs that have also been awarded a second mandate.

“We are very excited to welcome the 17 new TACs into the Tech-Access Canada family” said David Berthiaume, Executive Director of OLEOTEK and Chair of Tech-Access Canada’s Board. “We look forward to sharing our best practices and assisting them to hit the ground running and solve the innovation challenges of industry partners in their regions.”

Canada’s 47 Technology Access Centres (TACs) are specialized applied research & development centres affiliated with publicly-funded colleges and cégeps. Each TAC serves a specific geographic area, with a focus on strengthening the industrial sector of significance to that region. These demand-driven centres, from BC to PEI, help Canadian businesses – especially Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) – get their products, processes and services market-ready by:

• offering objective advice and specialized technical services;

• providing training related to new types of equipment and processes; and

• conducting applied research and development projects focused on company problems.

Crafting the World’s First Cannabis Beer

Posted on June 12, 2019 by wpadminLeave a comment

Crafting the World’s First Cannabis Beer

Province Brands of Canada is aiming to be the first company to bring the world’s first beer brewed entirely from cannabis, instead of barley or grains, to market. In order to do so, Province Brands must first prove that their patent-pending process is capable of converting cannabis plant material and hemp plant material into an aqueous solution that can be used as a base for producing fermented beverages. The challenge with this process is that it’s extremely difficult to break down cannabis and hemp plant material.

In April 2018, Province Brands partnered with Loyalist College’s Applied Research Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis to assist with this task. The research project aimed to help Province Brands prove their patent-pending process using hemp plant material and determine if commercial scale-up was economically feasible.

This was accomplished at a research scale by systematically testing a series of conditions for breaking the mature hemp stalks down so the sugars could be readily accessed and used in the fermentation process, a required step for product development. Subject-specific experts in engineering and brewing worked with the research team and enabled the student research assistants an opportunity to learn from a greater scope of expertise. The results of this project, which included the optimization of process conditions, were then successfully tested on a larger pilot scale.

The current focus for Province Brands is applying the results of the pilot studies to a commercial scale.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Loyalist College in our groundbreaking research to create a new brewing tradition, which will ultimately create jobs across Ontario and most importantly, introduce consumers to a healthier and safer alternative to alcohol beverages. It is never easy to work on a process this new and innovative but shaking up an existing industry is always worthwhile.” – Jennifer Dianne Thomas, Co-Founder and CLO of Province Brands of Canada

Under the scope of this project, two Loyalist Biosciences students (Robyn Neri and Dallas Bonner) were offered 18-month research assistant contracts. Upon graduation, Neri and Bonner were hired by Province Brands and continue to complete the development work involved in this project. Province Brands hopes to hire even more Loyalist students as the partnership continues.

“It’s very innovative and research intensive,” said Neri. “We don’t know exactly what’s going to happen. We have an idea, but it’s never been done before. We’re on the front line of this research and this kind of product. Everything about this experience is exciting.”

Would You Add Crickets to Your Dinner Plate?

Posted on June 12, 2019 by wpadminLeave a comment

Entomo Farms thinks you should.

Their cricket powder contains twice as much protein compared to beef, more calcium than milk, includes all nine essential amino acids, has more iron than spinach and is organic and gluten-free. All of this is accomplished by using a fraction of the farming essentials, such as water and feed that typical beef, pork, and chicken require.

Entomo Farms is establishing a new paradigm of perception and desirability to motivate people worldwide to consume insect protein. There was tremendous interest from commercial retailers and food producers to sell the cricket powder, but first Entomo Farms had to identify the product’s shelf life so it could provide a “best before” date.

Entomo Farms did not have the necessary expertise, so it partnered with Loyalist College’s Applied Research Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis. Over a two-year period, Loyalist College measured parameters such as fat, protein, and moisture using advanced technologies such as supercritical carbon dioxide extraction to determine product stability and shelf life.

The results of this study provided Entomo Farms with a minimum shelf life of two years for their cricket powder. As a result, large retailers and producers such as Loblaws and Breadcraft (New Zealand) have put Entomo Farms’ cricket powder on their shelves and in their products, generating a minimum of a 20 percent increase in revenue for Entomo Farms since 2017.

Although commercialization was the goal, the impacts of this project are much larger than a profitable product and income generator. Entomo Farms envisions that by having a high quality, high protein product that is stable without refrigeration, it will give governments and development organizations the ability to provide food security for areas stricken by a natural disaster or for populations in Third World regions where the energy resources for food storage are sparse or null.

“The groundbreaking and pioneering research we are conducting in partnership with Loyalist is helping to understand key elements of insect foods, specifically cricket powder performance, characteristics and functionality. It is creating confidence and normalizing this emerging food category. We are excited and look forward to many more collaborative projects in the future.” – Dr. Jarrod Goldin, President of Entomo Farms

In February 2019, Entomo Farms and the Applied Research Centre for Natural Products and Medical Cannabis will once again be partnering to further advance the world of insect protein innovation by investigating extraction of various nutrients from insects, to be used in food, pharmacology, health and beauty sectors.

Someday soon, this alternative source of protein could become a household staple and eating hickory-flavoured crickets, the new norm.

Local Cannabis Jobs in High Demand in Simcoe County

Posted on April 25, 2019 by wpadminLeave a comment

Local Cannabis Jobs in High Demand in Simcoe County

April 25, 2019 – We are witnessing a resurgent local manufacturing sector sparked from Federal cannabis legalization. The growth of this industry has created a burgeoning cannabis job market all across Canada, including right here in Simcoe County, but filling this job market can be sticky. Weed puns aside, big cannabis business requires a workforce with particular qualifications and skill sets.

This means Canadian Colleges and Universities need to include more cannabis programming. And they have. This began to happen nearly a year ago for Loyalist College, when the college launched an eight-month Cannabis Applied Science (CSGS) post-graduate certificate program. That new program was the first of its kind in Canada.

ON CAMPUS: Becoming a Cannabis Applied Science Student

Posted on April 5, 2019 by wpadminLeave a comment

ON CAMPUS: Becoming a Cannabis Applied Science Student

April 05, 2019 – When I graduated from Loyalist College’s Biotechnology – Advanced program in June 2018, I gave the valedictorian address to my graduating class and was ready to pursue a career in science.

I’ve been passionate about science and research my entire life. Having spent three years in labs at Loyalist, gloved and goggled while diving into microbiology, tissue culture and next level extraction technologies, I was everything a young scientist in her early 20s would be – excited to get out there and make a difference in the world.

I never really considered a career in cannabis until I heard about Loyalist’s post-graduate cannabis applied science program, the first of its kind in Canada. Being a part of the program’s initial cohort has been an amazing experience. We’re a small group – there’s 20 of us – and we come from various science-related backgrounds. Having diverse perspectives in the classroom makes for intriguing, thought-provoking discussions which broaden and challenge the boundaries of my thinking.