Federal investment through Genome Canada and the regional Genome Centres helps Canadian companies use genomics and biotech innovation to grow while unlocking private sector co-investment in research and development (R&D).
June 23, 2026
Toronto, Ontario – Smarter production is the goal of the HARVEST agri-tech accelerator that’s investing in cleantech and agricultural companies to help them scale up their businesses and strengthen the country’s economy and supply chains.
Nine start-ups from coast to coast will receive an investment of up to $750,000 and critical business mentorship from Ontario Genomics, Genome Alberta and Genome Prairie to bring their products and production methods to industrial commercial scale, as soon as possible.
Thanks to up to $7 million of funding through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s ACT Accelerator, HARVEST is sustainably diversifying Canada’s economy by helping these innovative companies get their game-changing solutions to market here and overseas:
ABAzyne Bioscience (Saskatoon, SK) is modernizing cold-weather crop protection with a bio-spray for grapes and other tender fruit.
ALT TEX (Toronto, ON) is transforming food waste into biodegradable fabrics for the fashion industry.
B.Nature Biotech (Saskatoon, SK) is upcycling food waste and local rock phosphate into a made-in-Canada phosphate-enhanced biofertilizer.
Chinova Bioworks (Fredericton, NB) is upcycling mushroom scraps to create a natural preservative for the food and beverage industry.
Launch Bioindustries (Toronto, ON) is scaling production of its sustainably made microbes that turn dairy sidestreams into a key ingredient for biodegradable plastics.
Lucent Biosciences (Coquitlam, BC) is developing an eco-friendly, controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer to help crops absorb nutrients better.
Performance Plants (Kingston, ON) is developing high-yielding varieties of canola that is drought and heat resistant and capture more carbon from the atmosphere.
SymBL Innovations (Toronto, ON) is engineering microbes to upcycle dairy by-products into ingredients used in food, supplements and healthcare treatments.
Vive Crop Protection (Mississauga, ON) is creating a precision pesticide that targets the genes of specific pests doing damage to crops but is harmless to all other species.
“Canada’s agriculture sector is increasingly looking to data-driven and biotechnology-enabled solutions to improve productivity, resilience, and sustainability. The projects supported through Harvest showcase how genomics innovation can help the sector address challenges of climate change while creating new opportunities for agri-tech companies to grow and commercialize their technologies.”
Tom Finn, Senior Sector Innovation Manager, Genome Alberta
“These companies are developing effective bio-based solutions with tangible results in response to climate change. The HARVEST agri-tech accelerator is giving them the support and guidance they need to grow their business in Canada, strengthening our economy and supply chains.”
Mike Dorrington, HARVEST Program Director, Ontario Genomics
Genome Alberta is working towards a better future through genomics innovation. Our mission is to promote and support genomics solutions to create value and investment opportunities through excellent science, technology and application development, collaborations, and partnerships. We work on priority areas in health, agriculture, environment & energy, and forestry, driving growth across sectors while helping to develop Alberta’s next generation of talented innovators. Learn more at GenomeAlberta.ca
Ontario Genomics invests in researchers and start-ups to drive industrial biotech through homegrown, cutting-edge solutions in food and agriculture, medicine and cleantech. With over 600 partnerships and $3.5 billion in investments, we’ve been working with governments, industry and innovators for over 25 years to get ideas out of the lab and into the real world. Learn more at OntarioGenomics.ca.
Media inquiries
Maggie Blood
Innovation Communications and Public Affairs Manager
mblood@ontariogenomics.ca
