Genome Prairie Launches Four New Genomics-Based Commercialization Projects

Funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and in partnership with Genome Alberta and Ontario Genomics, the newly announced projects aim to bring genomics-based innovations to market that enhance farming efficiencies while reducing environmental impacts from food production.

Genome Prairie formally announced today four new genomics projects focused on commercializing biotechnologies or processes aimed at enhancing crop yields to strengthen Canada’s economy and supply chains.

The four new projects are funded via the recently launched HARVEST Harnessing Agriculture for Research, Value-add Environmental Solutions and Technology), a Canada-wide commercialization funding opportunity launched in early 2026. Each of the four new projects is part of HARVEST’s PACT (Primary Agriculture Clean Technologies) stream, which offers matching project support intended to help for-profit enterprises commercialize innovations that reduce environmental impacts while improving efficiencies in farming, ranching, and other on-farm activities. These innovations may also include precision agriculture, soil and nutrient management technologies and systems that cut greenhouse gases, water use, and waste at the source of food production.

The four companies receiving PACT funding support are:

• ABAzyne Bioscience (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), for the development of a treatment featuring a naturally occurring plant hormone that gives crops an extra level of protection during unexpected cold snaps/frost. Project value: $1.38M.
• Performance Plants (Kingston, Ontario), for the development of high-yielding canola varieties that are drought and heat resistant while capturing more atmospheric GHG emissions. Project value: $1.15M.
• VIVE Crop Protection (Mississauga, Ontario), for the creation of a precision pesticide which targets the genes of specific crop-damaging pests. Project value: $1.15M.
• Lucent Biosciences (West Vancouver, British Columbia), for the development of a biodegradable controlled-release fertilizer to maintain or raise crop yields as an alternative to conventional nitrogen fertilizers. Project value: $1.2M.

The four PACT projects will be co-led by Genome Prairie, based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Genome Alberta, which has offices in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.

Funding for the HARVEST initiative is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada via the Agriculture Clean Technology Program Research and Innovation Stream – Accelerator.