The BC Innovation Council has launched a competition to develop new technologies for B.C.'s agri-food sector.
The commercialization of agricultural technology competition is part of the council's $1.4 million agriculture, food and bioproducts innovation initiative that's supported by the Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.
The contest is aimed at encouraging new technologies and processes that improve agriculture around the globe. Some B.C.-based advances include a new technology to refine wastewater to increase plant growth by recovering polluting nutrients like phosphorus and ammonia before they're released into the environment.
A new canola protein has also been developed in B.C. to compete with soy, dairy and egg proteins to be used in prepared foods, nutritional supplements and personal care products.
B.C.'s agriculture and food sectors generate more than $9.1 billion in annual revenue and employ more than 67,000 people.