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Ocean to Plate- Lobster Research and Innovation Forum

Diving into Lobster Industry Collaboration
Ocean to Plate – Lobster Industry Research Forum set to Kick off in Truro

January 25, 2019 (Halifax, NS) – Ocean to Plate – Lobster Industry Research Forum, Atlantic Canada’s largest lobster industry focused event, will take place January 29 in Truro, NS. The forum will bring together lobster industry players all along the value chain with the research capacity at Atlantic Canada’s universities and colleges. The goal of the event is to drive new research and development collaborations and spark new projects that can support one of Atlantic Canada’s key industries at a time of significant change.

Lobster is one of Atlantic Canada’s most important exports. The Nova Scotia industry alone landed over 51,000 million tons of lobster worth $570 million (2014 numbers). Lobster is Nova Scotia’s most valuable seafood export and is primarily shipped as a live product. Lobster landings have been experiencing an upward trend and remain at one of the highest levels recorded this century. In Nova Scotia alone, landings have more than doubled over the past 20 years.

Atlantic Canadian lobster is recognized worldwide for its quality and outstanding taste, but with climate change, rapidly evolving technologies and globalization, the Atlantic Canadian lobster industry faces new challenges. That’s why Springboard Atlantic and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) launched an initiative to support the stakeholders of the lobster industry to ensure the sustainability and continued growth of this important Atlantic Canadian sector. Initial consultations with harvesters, processors, shippers, and buyers have shown ACOA and Springboard the key challenges facing the lobster industry. These consultations have resulted in an initial expertise map and helped identify the need to bring the industry together for collaborative workshops.

Four events in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and PEI have already taken place across the region. These consultations will culminate with the Pan-Atlantic event on January 29 in Truro, NS. The event will feature keynotes where industry leaders share best practices for building partnerships. These speakers will be followed by working sessions where industry and academia can engage to explore collaborative solutions to company challenges.

“I am pleased to see the innovation ecosystem at work in Atlantic Canada on this project. The lobster industry is a major component of the region’s economy and, through strategic consultation and collaboration, the industry can prepare for future challenges and create solutions. Organizations like Springboard are catalysts for helping to commercialize leading research, and this partnership with ACOA ensures those tools have the furthest reach.” – The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA

“The lobster industry is integral to Atlantic Canada’s economy and finding innovative ways to help it thrive is really why Springboard Atlantic and ACOA are collaborating on this project.  We have our 19 universities and colleges throughout the region that are conducting research and providing technical solutions ranging from lobster biology and genetics, bait, data analytics, value-added products to automation.  We feel strongly that our academic institutions are well positioned to work alongside industry partners to tackle important challenges and develop new commercial opportunities.  Our event on January 29 is the culmination of months of hard work and we are looking forward to some really strong outcomes.” – Daryl Genge, President & CEO, Springboard Atlantic

 

About the Organizers

Springboard Atlantic 

Springboard Atlantic is Atlantic Canada’s commercialization network. We represent the collective academic research and development expertise of 19 universities and colleges across the region. We act as a bridge between academia and industry bringing world-class ideas to the marketplace and drawing in industry challenges to be solved. With over 10,000 researchers, 30 industry engagement professionals and over 6000 research deals done in the last 3 years, our model stands alone in Canada as a best practice example of collaboration.

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency supports work at Springboard Atlantic through the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF). The AIF helps Atlantic Canadians develop and bring to market new products and services that lead to market success, help grow strategic sectors, or lead the creation of research and commercialization partnerships. The AIF builds on the commitments towards innovation made in the Atlantic Growth Strategy, and is aligned with Canada’s Innovation Agenda.

 

Contacts 

Interviews and press: 

Katrin Sommerfeld
Programs Manager
Springboard Atlantic
Halifax, NS
@SBAtlantic
(902) 421-5678
[email protected]
Jana Parker-Smith
Communications Manager
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-566-7569
[email protected]