Licensing Opportunities

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has a variety of technologies and intellectual property available for commercialization.

Some licensing opportunities are competitive and time-sensitive. We use the Request for Proposals process to identify technologies that are available for a specific time only. Terms may include commercial exclusivity. If a license is not executed from the Request for Proposals, the technology may continue to be available as a 'generally available' technology.

Technologies may also be made available on a non-exclusive basis; such licensing opportunities are included with 'generally available' technologies.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is licensed to post its latest technologies on Flintbox®, an online platform for marketing and licensing the outcomes of research. Most of the technologies listed below are described in greater detail on the Flintbox® page.

Select the title to access the Flintbox® posting, which includes the following information:

• Full description of the technology, including process and product
• Patent information, if applicable
• Potential applications, including market, limitations, third-party rights
• Business opportunity available
• Contact Information

Technologies are grouped below according to area of interest and include the following categories:

• Crop and Livestock Production
• Food and Non-Food Products and Processes
• Environmental Technologies
• Bioproducts and Bioprocesses (Biotechnology)

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Crop And Livestock Production

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 2010 Variety Request for Proposals (time limited)

Short Description: Each year, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada makes available to interested proponents, the sole licensing rights to market and produce pedigreed seed for each of the varieties developed through its breeding programs that have received support for registration.

Notice of Request for Proposals 2009 Ornamental Plant Materials

Short Description: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is pleased to announce its 2009 Ornamental Plant Materials Request for Proposals.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will make available to interested proponents, the sole rights to breed, select, market and produce new ornamental plant material and germplasm developed through its breeding programs at Morden, Manitoba and St. Jean, Quebec.

Three groups of plants are offered: woody plants; hardy roses; and Monarda - a herbaceous perennial commonly known as Bee-Balm.

Accelerated Release Program for New Potato Selections

Short Description: New Potato Selections for French Fries, Chips and the Fresh Market

Antimicrobial technology against Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria

A team at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has discovered a formulation of a new group of active antimicrobial ingredients based on a novel mechanism of protection of ß-lactam antibiotics against destruction by ß-lactamase. This technology is for treating antibiotic-resistant microbial infections in animals and humans by administration of bovine lactoferrin or lactoferricin in combination with antibiotics or other families of antimicrobial products. Research studies in dairy cattle have demonstrated the effectiveness of the technology for the treatment of mastitis. Companies interested in licensing the patents associated with this technology should submit an Expression of Interest to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada by November 15th, 2008.

Release of Corn Inbred Lines

Short Description: The Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre in Ottawa is responsible for the release of all corn inbred lines developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Companies wishing to access Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Corn Inbred Lines for testing in North America must obtain a Release and License Agreement. Please contact Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization for more information.

If you wish to obtain more specific information on any individual inbred contact: Dr. Lana Reid, Research Scientist, phone: 613-759-1619, Lana Reid.

Floral induction method for roses cultivated in vitro

Short Description: A new opportunity exists for the marketing of micro roses thanks to the development of a floral induction method for roses cultivated in vitro. The rose plants obtained by this method can be marketed to flower shops, gift shops and other outlets for subsequent retail sale. Gardeners will be able to acclimatize the roses and then transplant them to their gardens. The new technology provides the possibility of exporting roses year-round, without the plant health constraints encountered in the marketing of conventionally produced roses, because in vitro roses are not grown in soil.

Measurement of muscular steatosis modulating factors in swine

Short Description: A methodology has been developed for measuring various steatosis fat infiltration modulating factors so that carriers of this anomaly among growing swine can be identified.

Enzyme additives for ruminant feeds

Short Description: Adding mixtures of fibrolytic and proteolytic enzymes to ruminant diets increases the digestibility of forage and/or grain.

Food And Non-Food Products And Processes

'Canasnack', a nutritious cookie

Short Description: A team at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency has developed a healthy, convenient snack cookie with real potential as a functional food. This snack was developed for the astronauts, contains nutritious ingredients, and could meet some needs of athletes, outdoor fans, and the general public. Proposals to commercialize this technology received prior to May 19, 2008 will be evaluated through a competitive process. The technology will continue to be available for licensing after this closing date if no acceptable proposal results from the competitive process.

Continuous drying/infusion process for whole or sliced, wild or cultivated cranberries

Drying process for blueberries

Short Description: A continuous dehydration process for drying wild or cultivated blueberries.

Electrotechnological procedure using electroflotation to separate liquids and solids in the agri-food and agri-environmental sectors

Short Description: The electroflotation process has been developed and adapted for use in the clarification of apple juice. Electrophysical and electrochemical parameters were developed for a process that combines electroflotation and ultrafiltration. The procedure clarifies raw apple juice by controlling the generation of hydrogen micro-bubbles during the electrolysis of water.

Fermentation process for plant products (garlic) stored in oil

Short Description: Controlled fermentation process for traditional plant products, adapted for use with garlic stored in oil through the development of a unique multi-strain starter culture.

Fructus: An automated traceability and quality system for fruits and vegetables

Short Description: This automated tracking system, based on bar codes or other technology (radio-frequency identification, vision, etc.) allows the either automatic or manual entry of data on the physico-chemical quality and environmental conditions (distribution) during the storage and transport of produce, specifically fresh and processed fruits and vegetables.

'Green' extraction and separation technology for phytochemicals

Short Description: This 'green' environmentally friendly technology provides the equipment, systems and methods for extraction and purification of multiple classes of phytochemicals from plant materials during a single extraction operation. Phytochemicals compounds have generated significant interest for their incorporation into high value products including functional foods, nutraceuticals, pharmacologicals, and fragrances. The technology can be utilized on a wide variety of plant materials and mixtures. The extraction method using water is selective and clean unlike organic solvents, such as ethanol or acetone routinely utilized in the industry, which are not used in this process.

HarvestWatch^TM - monitoring produce health

Short Description: HarvestWatch is a system used to continuously monitor the health of produce during long-term storage. It allows controlled atmosphere operators to extend the storage life of fruits and vegetables thereby greatly improving the product that is sent to market.

Lowbush Blueberry Moisture Sensor

Short Description: Apparatus that predicts the risk of fungal infection in blueberry fields; sensor functions with algorithm indicating state of infection or risk of infection caused by wetness as captured by moisture sensor.

Multi-strain starter culture for vegetable fermentation

Short Description: A technology developed for sauerkraut-type fermented vegetable applications using a multi-strain lactic starter culture and no preservatives.

Process whereby yeast is added to a starter culture to prevent the growth of undesirable yeasts in fermented vegetables

Short Description: Controlled fermentation process that generates anti-yeast agents that reduce the risk of spoilage of stored vegetables.

Process for production of oil-reduced/calorie-reduced nuts

Short Description: Supercritical Carbon dioxide extraction process to substantially reduce the oil-content and caloric value of nuts.

Process using chitosan formulations as a microbial agent and inhibitor of micro-organisms causing food spoilage

Short Description: Biological control process employing a mixture of chitosan hydrolysate and organic acids to stabilize processed plant products, including juices.

Process of combining organic acids to stabilize and preserve processed plant products

Short Description: Biological control process employing a mixture of organic acids to stabilize and standardize processed plant products, including the new use of propionic acid as a preservative for vegetable products.

Production of plant proanthocyanidins

Short Description: Process for extracting and purifying proanthocyanidins extracted from the bark of Canadian pine trees.

Production of a natural red food colourant

Short Description: Process for extracting and deodorizing a natural food colorant from red cabbage.

Production of hydrosoluble carotenes from corneform bacteria

Short Description: A novel process for extracting and purifying hydrosoluble carotenes from coryneform bacteria isolated from the surface of Gruyère and Beaufort cheeses is available.

Shelf stable juice beverage concentrate

Short Description: Formulation of a juice beverage concentrate at 65 to 68º Brix for both consumers use and industrial production has been developed. The product sustains high opacity, as well as microbiological and physical stability (absence of phase separation).

Specialized food for the treatment of dysphagia

Short Description: Technology to manufacture some 40 different menus consisting of texture-modified liquid and solid foods for the effective treatment of dysphagia, a serious inability to eat and/or drink frequently associated with malnutrition.

Environmental Technologies

Electroflotation process for the conditioning of animal manure

A research team from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), together with a team from the Research and Development Institute for the Agri-Environment (IRDA), has developed a new process for conditioning animal manure. This new process deals well with the problem of excess fertilizing agents while also reducing pathogens and odours. The electroflotation concept was validated with manure from 21 hog farms in Montérégie and Estrie, Quebec, and it included dairy cattle manure. Companies interested in obtaining a licence for this technology or carrying out a joint research and development project must contact the IRDA.

Process for the Treatment of Pig Manure

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is offering a commercialization opportunity involving the treatment of liquid pig manure using magnesium smelting by-products. By allowing the de-phosphatation of the manure, the process represents a reduction to the environmental impact of farm waste management and offers an advantageous and environmentally acceptable solution for the disposal of residues from the magnesium industry. Moreover, the solid fraction obtained by the process is a slow-release organo-mineral fertilizer.

Companies interested in this opportunity must send a letter of interest to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada on or before March 13, 2009.

Naturally-Occurring, Insecticidal Products from Field Peas

Short Description: Scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have isolated and identified a number of new botanical insecticidal extracts and botanical insecticidal synergists from the flour of yellow field peas and demonstrated enhanced insecticidal activity against pests of stored grains particularly Sitophilus species including the rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae), the rusty grain beetle (Cryptolestes ferrugineus) and the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum).

Bioproducts And Bioprocesses (Biotechnology)

Altering Carotenoid Profiles in Plants

This technology provides a method of enhancing carotenoid levels in seeds of plants by altering the expression of lycopene epsilon cyclase, (e-CYC), a key enzyme in the carotenoid biosyntheis pathway. This can be accomplished by transgenic means or by mutagenesis. These compounds are useful as anti-oxidants in both the nutraceutical and vegetable oil industries. As well, the B-carotene can be converted to astaxanthin which is used as a supplement in the fish food industry.

Phytase Genes of Ruminal Microorganisms

Novel phytases derived from ruminal microorganisms are capable of catalyzing the release of inorganic phosphorus from phytic acid. Preferred sources of phytases include Selenomonas, Prevotella, Treponema and Megasphaera. A purified and isolated deoxyribonucleic acit encoding a phytase of Selenomonas ruminantium JY35 (ATCC 55785) is provided. Recombinant expression vectors containing deoxyribonucleic acits encoding the novel phytases and host cells transformed with deoxyribonucleic acits encoding the novel phytases are also provided.

Xylanase Gene from an Anaerobic Fungus

Plant cell walls are highly variable structures containing several forms of hemicellulose. Hydrolyzed with xylanase, hemicellulose can be exploited as a rich source of carbon and energy for the production of livestock and microorganisms as well as an important renewable resource utilized by the pulp and paper, lumber, food and pharmaceutical industries.

Full Length Native Clone Encoding DGAT Enzyme in Canola for Altering Seed Oil Content and Oil Quality

Short Description: The isolation and characterization of genes coding for diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase (DGAT) has been achieved in the oilseed plant Brassica napus (canola). DGAT carries out the final and committed step in lipid biosynthesis. The compositions and methods of the DGAT technology are useful in a wide range of industrial, agricultural and nutritional applications.

Methods for Concentration and Extraction of Lubricity Compounds and Biologically Active Fractions from Naturally Derived Fats, Oils and Greases

Short Description: A novel method of extracting, recovering and enriching of lubricating compounds and biologically active compounds from plant and animal oils, fat and greases has been developed. This cost effective method will enhance bio-fuel production resulting in compounds with superior lubricity properties that can be used as a diesel fuel additive to meet the new International approved lubricity standard pertaining to the Standard Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils (American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D-975-04b).

Modulation of Plant Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor Activity

Short Description: A method has been developed to modify Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor activity by introducing genes into plants. These genes encode for proteins that are able to interact with Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, counteracting the effects on plant growth and morphology that the Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors would otherwise have had allowing modification of the morphology and architecture of plants.

Modifications of Plant Growth and Development by Cell-Cycle Technology

Short Description: There is an opportunity for an interested party to license the following technology for using Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor genes to modify the growth and development of plants. The technology enables modifications of specific plant tissues and organs, and improvements of plant morphology and architecture.

Protein electro-acidification process

Short Description: Process derived from electrodialysis permitting protein electro-acidification with bipolar membranes.