Cultivated B plans a Burlington, Ontario, bioengineering facility-innovation hub | So Good News

Cultivated B, a bioengineering company providing access to plant-based and cell-based alternative protein sources, will establish its Canadian manufacturing operations and innovation hub in Burlington, Ontario. The C$50 million project is expected to create more than 200 jobs next year.

Located at 649 North Service Road, the new 130,000-square-foot facility will design and manufacture bioreactors from 500 mL to 25,000 liters, as well as photobioreactors and high-precision devices for cellular agriculture and precision fermentation. This allows other companies to produce alternative proteins on an industrial scale, whether in the meat, pharmaceutical or cosmetic industries.

“This facility in Canada is not just a production site. In addition to developing and manufacturing innovative technologies and bioreactors, we want to help other businesses in the cellular agriculture and pharmaceutical industries thrive,” says Hamid R. Nouri, Founder and Co-CEO of The Cultivated B. “Our innovation hub, in particular, will help shape the landscape for mobile agriculture in the country and fill a huge gap that we see. We have aligned our goals with the government and Ontario Genomics, and I look forward to seeing how we can advance innovation and economic development together.”

In partnership with Ontario Genomics, approximately 20,000 square feet of the building will be dedicated to growing an innovation hub that will provide lab space, bioreactors and mentoring for small and medium-sized cell agriculture and other biotech companies. to test and scale their products.

“Canada, and Ontario in particular, has the opportunity to be at the forefront of a transformative industry. Our partnership with TCB will support biotech startups as they enable the production of much-needed foods and ingredients,” said Bettina Hamelin, President and CEO of Ontario Genomics. “There is tremendous industry momentum and consumer demand for these new and innovative products. This partnership is an important next step for Canada to act on the window of opportunity to increase sustainability in the food supply chain while achieving overall food security and sustainability goals.”

The facility will also house PreFer Industries, a subsidiary of The Cultivated B. focused on developing alternative, particularly plant-based protein sources through precision fermentation. PreFer Industries maintains the production of key plant resources in Canada and produces them together with the necessary proteins to optimize their use. This technology turns a low-value resource like grain into something high-value.

“It will create 200 really well-paying jobs. This boosts the local economy. But more than that, it paves the way for future innovations in the food and pharmaceutical industries. It will also help secure Ontario’s position as a leader in biotechnology,” added Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Jobs and Trade.

Cultivated B uses cellular agriculture, precision fermentation, and new approaches in bioreactor technology to advance the cultured meat, food manufacturing, and personal care industries. By offering innovative technologies, the company enriches the alternative protein and agrotech industries and enables other organizations to produce alternative proteins on an industrial scale.