Canada has an extensive range of research centres, food incubators, accelerators and labs supporting food and beverage innovation through the research they do and/or the services they offer. Each week throughout 2023, we’ll be highlighting an organization that’s supporting food innovation in Canada.
Location: Ketch Harbour, NS
Mission: To deliver specialized research solutions for collaborators and clients.
Focus: The Marine Research Station has experts in algal biology, marine biology, aquaculture, analytical chemistry, and applied nutrition. The algal research facility provides resources and expertise for the cultivation of seaweeds and microalgae to produce bioactives and other compounds.
Services: The station offers:
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advanced biomass processing equipment, including three high-speed centrifuges with up to 5000 L per hour processing capacity, and industrial freeze-drying capacity.
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An advanced chemostat laboratory for continuous cultivation and monitoring of microalgae
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Advanced instrumentation for biomass and lipid analysis including: automated Soxhlet lipid extractor; bench top lyophilizer; bomb calorimeter; elemental analyzer; fluorometer; gas chromatograph; membrane inlet mass spectrometer; micro-osmometer; and nitrogen analyzer
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Continuous photobioreactor capacity for intensive continuous cultivation of microalgae (Biofence photobioreactor with a 2,400-L capacity)
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Conviron environmental growth chambers for controlled cultivation of algae
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Dynasep supercritical CO2 bioactive extraction system
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Extensive marine organism cultivation and holding capacity (for example, seaweed, microalgae, zooplankton)
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Gas mixing and containment system for delivering specific gas mixtures to algal cultures
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High-capacity seawater pumping station servicing multiple buildings on site; seawater chilling and heating capacity
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Intensive microalgae batch cultivation capacity (multiple Brite-Box photobioreactors with a total volume of approximately 12,000 L)
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Laboratory-scale feed production facility for post-harvest processing of aquatic and crop-based resources and for on-site formulation and production of test diets and research feeds for animal and/or aquaculture nutrition studies
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Wet labs for algal growth media preparation and cell counting
What you need to know: Using an in-house collection of strains, the station is exploring potential commercial applications of microalgae, including aquaculture feeds, protein concentrates, anti-microbial compounds, and anti-oxidants like carotenoid pigments. Harvesting and biochemical analysis of algal biomass is done on site and advanced tools for more detailed analyses of algal biomass and the extraction of specific bioactives can be tailored to the needs of our research partners.
Notable News: Cascadia Seaweed, Canada’s largest vertically integrated ocean kelp cultivator, ran a pilot study in 2021 testing its kelp restoration method, called the green gravel method. The company will be testing its Green Gravel Production System (GGPS) this summer at the Marine Research Station. The production system includes electrical and plumbing systems, equipment, protocols, and training for reforesting Saccharina latissima (Sugar kelp). The system can also be modified for other kelp species.