Using nanotechnology to create Using nanotechnology to create new opportunities for the new opportunities for the agricultural sector: The Alberta agricultural sector: The Alberta Agricultural Research InstituteAgricultural Research Institute

Stan Blade, Ph.D., P.Ag.Stan Blade, Ph.D., P.Ag.Alberta Agricultural Research InstituteAlberta Agricultural Research InstituteAlberta Nanotech ShowcaseAlberta Nanotech ShowcaseNovember 21, 2008November 21, 2008

OutlineOutline Alberta’s agricultural sectorAlberta’s agricultural sector AARI strategic prioritiesAARI strategic priorities Agriculture and NanotechnologyAgriculture and Nanotechnology Current AARI investmentsCurrent AARI investments New opportunitiesNew opportunities

Alberta Farm Gate Value Alberta Farm Gate Value (2007)(2007)

ProductProduct Value ($mil)Value ($mil)

BeefBeef 3,1043,104

CanolaCanola 1,2161,216

WheatWheat 1,2511,251

HogsHogs 465465

DairyDairy 426426

PoultryPoultry 225225

PotatoesPotatoes 152152

BarleyBarley 282282

VegetablesVegetables 7777

PulsesPulses 8282

The Alberta Agricultural The Alberta Agricultural Research InstituteResearch Institute

AARI envisions a thriving agriculture sector AARI envisions a thriving agriculture sector and bioeconomy through innovation in and bioeconomy through innovation in agriculture.agriculture.

Sustainable production-Sustainable production- Invest in Invest in innovations which will address innovations which will address challenges and create opportunities challenges and create opportunities throughout the value chain.throughout the value chain.

Strategic DirectionStrategic DirectionStrategic DirectionStrategic Direction

Cited in: Slow Magic, IFPRI. 2001

Global productivity has increased!

Cereal Price Index, 1905-2000(All prices = 100 in 1960)

Source: von Braun, IFPRI, February 2008

Food for Health-Food for Health- Create new Create new opportunities for agriculture to create opportunities for agriculture to create healthful products which meet the needs healthful products which meet the needs of consumers.of consumers.

Strategic DirectionStrategic DirectionStrategic DirectionStrategic Direction

EAT

PURCHASE

MARKET

DISTRIBUTE

PROCESS

GROW

Value

Information

Innovation traits:Innovation traits:Value chainsValue chains

Cis-1,4-polyisoprene(natural rubber)

Genomics-aided identification of novel bio-catalysts (enzymes)

Sesquiterpene lactone

O

Nootkatone - a key aroma compound in the peel of grapefruit

Lettuce

Industrial biorefiningIndustrial biorefining – Enhance – Enhance Alberta’s capacity to convert biological Alberta’s capacity to convert biological feedstocks (biomass) to higher value fine feedstocks (biomass) to higher value fine chemicals, materials/fibres, heat and chemicals, materials/fibres, heat and power-in addition to food and feed. power-in addition to food and feed. Integrate existing Alberta strengths in Integrate existing Alberta strengths in agriculture, forestry and energy.agriculture, forestry and energy.

Strategic DirectionStrategic DirectionStrategic DirectionStrategic Direction

How can the bioeconomy change traditional How can the bioeconomy change traditional agriculture and agri-food business models?agriculture and agri-food business models?

Potential for transforming agricultural biomass into new and differentiated products Potential for transforming agricultural biomass into new and differentiated products will lead to new relationships with traditional industrial manufacturers.will lead to new relationships with traditional industrial manufacturers.

Biorefineries will provide an Biorefineries will provide an opportunity to move from a “one-opportunity to move from a “one-to-one” to a “one-to-many” to-one” to a “one-to-many” product development ratioproduct development ratio

““One-to-many” biorefineries can One-to-many” biorefineries can support economic growth along support economic growth along the value chain and reduce the value chain and reduce market risk through output market risk through output flexibilityflexibility Allowing higher-valued co-Allowing higher-valued co-

products to offset lower-valued products to offset lower-valued onesones

… however, biorefineries need to move beyond primarily R&D to form a critical mass across Canada

Canadian Triticale Biorefinery Canadian Triticale Biorefinery

Proteinand Bran

DDGS

Triticale Starch

Feed Products

Dry Starch

Thermoplastics, polymer blends,

adhesives, paper coatings,

paper additives, flocculants,

textile sizing, foam packing

Building blocks:Ethanol, Citric

Acid, Lactic Acid, Sorbitol, Levulinic

Acid, XanthanGum, etc

GlucoseSyrup

Biocomposite, wallboard,

tile/bricks, resins, dyes,

energy

Solvents, cosmetics, toiletries,

polishes, pharmaceuticals,

electroplating agents, surfactants,

adhesives, paints, plastics, fuels,

Industrial Uses

Triticale Straw

CelluloseHemicellulose

Lignin

C5 and C6sugars

Long Term Strategic Industry OutcomesLong Term Strategic Industry Outcomes

Where is Alberta now?

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Value-addedfood

Bioproducts Food forHealth

Primaryproduction

20062010

$ billion

Categories

AARI investments

•Bovine genomics•Value-added meats•Canadian Triticale Biorefining Initiative•Alberta Lipid Utilization Program•Animal health•Crop genetics•New products from ag co-products•Industrial products from biomass

Why do we need to invest Why do we need to invest in innovation?in innovation?

New opportunitiesNew opportunities

Source: GrowCanada Vision 2015

Nano-agriculture- What is Nano-agriculture- What is happening now?happening now?

Helmut Kaiser Report (2002)- “More than 180 applications Helmut Kaiser Report (2002)- “More than 180 applications are in different developing stages, and a few of them are are in different developing stages, and a few of them are already on the market. The nanofood market is expected to already on the market. The nanofood market is expected to surge from $2.6B today to $20.4B in 2010.”surge from $2.6B today to $20.4B in 2010.”

Danish NanoFood ConsortiumDanish NanoFood Consortium Forbes (2005)- Heinz, Hershey Nestle and Unilever have Forbes (2005)- Heinz, Hershey Nestle and Unilever have

made major research investments.made major research investments. Kraft Foods- NanoteK Food Consortium (2000)Kraft Foods- NanoteK Food Consortium (2000)

Physicists, engineers, molecular chemistsPhysicists, engineers, molecular chemists 15 universities and 2 U.S. national labs15 universities and 2 U.S. national labs Goal: interactive, “smart” foodsGoal: interactive, “smart” foods

Current researchCurrent research

Clemson University (Latour et al.)- Clemson University (Latour et al.)- Adhesin-specific nanoparticles remove Adhesin-specific nanoparticles remove Campylobacter from poultry.Campylobacter from poultry.

Oregon State University (Simonsen)- Oregon State University (Simonsen)- cellulose nanocrystalline compositescellulose nanocrystalline composites

Cornell University ( Walter et al.)- use Cornell University ( Walter et al.)- use nanotags to track hydrological flows to nanotags to track hydrological flows to address non-point source pollution.address non-point source pollution.

Courtesy: J. Kuzma, 2005

2005 Early Stage Agrifood Nanotechnology R&D Inventory

AARI projects in AARI projects in NanotechNanotech

Novel tools to treat animal diseases-Singh (U of S) and Novel tools to treat animal diseases-Singh (U of S) and Fenniri (U of A/NINT)- $139, 150Fenniri (U of A/NINT)- $139, 150

Novel vaccine delivery tool- Aich (U of S) $85,800Novel vaccine delivery tool- Aich (U of S) $85,800 Micro/nanoencapsulation of flax-based nutraceuticals- Micro/nanoencapsulation of flax-based nutraceuticals-

Temelli (U of A)- $267,375Temelli (U of A)- $267,375 Intelligent fertilizers using biosensors- Monreal (AAFC)- Intelligent fertilizers using biosensors- Monreal (AAFC)-

$200,000$200,000 Using carbon nanotubes for plant biotechnology- Kav (U Using carbon nanotubes for plant biotechnology- Kav (U

of A) - $224,250of A) - $224,250 Continuous membrane filtration reactors- Bressler (U of Continuous membrane filtration reactors- Bressler (U of

A)- $258,750A)- $258,750

The Leduc FoodProcessing Centre

•Value added products•Research•Company incubator

Alberta-$10-12 billion food processing

National Institute for National Institute for NanotechnologyNanotechnology

•The $120m National Institute for Nanotechnology (NNT)is located at the University of Alberta. •The Government of Albertahas recently announced a $130m Nanotechnology Strategy which includes a focus on agriculture.

Nano-agriculture applicationsNano-agriculture applications

Delivery of nutritional functionsDelivery of nutritional functions Controlled bioavailability of moleculesControlled bioavailability of molecules Flavour releaseFlavour release Taste and texture modificationTaste and texture modification Food quality sensorsFood quality sensors Nanotags (traceability)Nanotags (traceability) Enhanced quality traitsEnhanced quality traits Detection of undesirable elementsDetection of undesirable elements Smart packaging materialsSmart packaging materials