Bioenterprise and Canadian agri-tech companies participated in a trade mission to Japan
Canada's Agri-Tech trade mission has returned from Japan, where some of the country's most innovative firms met with Japanese officials and potential private partners to foster future collaboration. Bioenterprise Corporation, a national non-profit agri-technology business accelerator, and the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service organized the trip. The mission included representatives from Bioenterprise, Vive Crop Protection, AbCelex Technologies, PlantForm, Teramerra, and BW Global.
The Canadian firms took part in the Nikkei Agri-Tech Summit, an international business event that brings together Japanese and foreign business, academia, government, start-ups and established firms. The event focused on how disruptive technology is fusing with agriculture to shape our future. Presentations were made by participating companies and Joseph Regan, Director of Bioenterprise, summarizing Canadian Ag-tech activities to an over-capacity workshop session. The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of International Trade, delivered a keynote address and visited the Canada booth at the Summit.
Photo Credit: The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service
"The four-day trade mission was a tremendous success, our goal was to develop and deepen relationships with several major Japanese partners. We had substantive discussions with ten different companies, most of which were facilitated by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service. We're very excited about the potential to begin exporting into Japanese markets, and we appreciate all Bioenterprise has done to set up the trade mission, " says Darren Anderson, Chief Communications Officer & VP Regulatory of Vive Crop Protection.
The Canadian agri-tech companies met with representatives from the Northern Advancement Center for Science & Technology (NOASTEC), a government funded R&D organization committed to adding value for agri-food materials produced in Hokkaido. They also took part in several seminars and networking sessions organized by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service.
"We are pleased to have been involved in this very successful trade mission to Japan, and the opportunity to promote innovative agri-tech companies from Canada. This trade mission was focused on investment and business development, and we look forward to seeing the relationships we've built here continue to grow," says Dave Smardon, President & CEO of Bioenterprise Corporation.
Ontario Agri-Food Technologies supported Ontario-based, Vive Crop Protection, AbCelex Technologies and PlantForm to participate on this trade mission.
Canada’s merchandise exports to Japan in 2016 were worth $10.7 billion, up 9.7 percent since 2015, with the top exports being agri-food products; forest products; and metallurgical, coal and copper ores.