DAY 1 - Tuesday, June 3
9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Bioeconomy Site Tours
Visit some of the bioeconomy’s most promising projects, located around the Saint John, New Brunswick area. See firsthand what is possible in a range of applications. The tour bus will be visiting JD Irving Pulp & Paper Mill Project NextGen, INNOV’s Bioeconomy Division biogas feedstock lab, and the Huntsman Marine Science Centre.
6:00 PM–9:00 PM
Meet & Greet at Gahan House Port City
Located at 87 Prince William St, Saint John, Gahan House features handcrafted ales, a delicious menu, and fresh East Coast oysters in their signature warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Bioeconomy Site Tours
Visit some of the bioeconomy’s most promising projects, located around the Saint John, New Brunswick area. See firsthand what is possible in a range of applications. The tour bus will be visiting JD Irving Pulp & Paper Mill Project NextGen, INNOV’s Bioeconomy Division biogas feedstock lab, and the Huntsman Marine Science Centre.
6:00 PM–9:00 PM
Meet & Greet at Gahan House Port City
Located at 87 Prince William St, Saint John, Gahan House features handcrafted ales, a delicious menu, and fresh East Coast oysters in their signature warm and welcoming atmosphere.
DAY 2 - Wednesday, June 4 (Full Day)
7:15 AM
Registration & Light Breakfast
8:15 AM
Welcome to Atlantic BIOCON 2025
Candice is also deeply passionate about public policy and human rights discourses. She has contributed to published works on youth participation rights, children’s rights in a globalized economy, and knowledge translation for policy decision-making.
Candice values the various communities she is a part of and has been actively volunteering with local and national non-profits for over 15 years. She has volunteered with the Canadian Bar Association, the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers, NB Champions for Child Rights, the Canadian Student Association of Children’s Rights, and more. Currently, Candice is the Second Vice-Chair of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick.
8:30 AM
Atlantic Canada's Place in the World
Canada is facing a monumental shift in its established trading partnerships. The need to diversify products and markets to bolster robustness and resiliency has never been greater, and the opportunity never more apparent. The panel will explore Canada’s strengths in a global marketplace related to its primary sectors, and the role of the bioeconomy in underpinning this growth.
Measuring & Aligning Our Bioeconomy Assets
Head of Special Projects and BDO Zone Initiative, Aryn is passionate about people and fostering authentic connections that drive success.
10:00 AM
Break, B2B Meetings, Trade Show and Poster Viewing
10:30 AM
Natural Products Canada: Biomass and Biomaterials
Natural Products Canada plays a critical role in supporting the development of bio-based companies nationally. This panel will highlight a selection of companies that NPC is currently working with in Atlantic Canada that demonstrate the caliber of talent being produced and supported in our backyard.
Lunch, B2B Meetings, Trade Show and Poster Viewing
12:30 PM
Partners in Progress: Spotlight on Supporting OrganizationsGreenspring Bioinnovation Hub’s RapidFermTech is an intensive 3-week upskilling program that prepares participants for careers as Fermentation Technicians in Nova Scotia’s emerging bioeconomy. The program blends guided online learning with in-person, hands-on training at the Verschuren Centre and INNOV, equipping participants with the technical skills and industry context needed to work in industrial fermentation. This presentation will highlight the program’s structure, outcomes from its first cohort, and lessons learned as the second cohort is delivered.
1:00 PM
Ports: Centres of Bioeconomy Acceleration
Ports have become the global epicentre for new technology development and deployment. They are ground zero for the piloting and scale-up of new energy and biotechnologies. Atlantic Canadas ports can and are playing a significant role in attracting inward investment and new partnership opportunities. This panel will explore the growing role of ports in the region beyond logistics.
Paths to Food Security
New regional coalitions are joining forces to enhance dialogue among food-focused groups across Atlantic provinces, emphasizing collaboration for local food initiatives. School food programs are marked as the most significant social program in decades; Newfoundland is set to buy 40,000 meals daily, offering notable economic impact. Healthcare food procurement in long-term care homes like Station Food Hub collaborating with Nova Scotia Health Authority, present additional opportunities for local food sourcing. Unfortunately, access to funding poses a major challenge for primary producers, especially obtaining loans from traditional lenders and investors.
Josh MacFayden’s research on circular economy projects includes ‘Animals in the Circular Economy Across Canada’ and historical food production in Atlantic communities, highlighting sustainability practices over time. Josh Smee’s understanding of structural challenges in local food systems has identified institutional procurement as a key opportunity; all four provinces launching universal school food programs with low local sourcing, plus infrastructure gaps hindering small producers.
Lunch, B2B Meetings, Trade Show and Poster Viewing
3:30 PM
Forestry: Carbon Solutions
Understanding forest carbon is becoming increasingly important for Canadian forest companies for numerous reasons. The management of forest carbon not only represents a meaningful way of mitigating climate impacts, but can represent new economic opportunities, and in some cases is becoming necessary for market access. This panel will explore some of the initiatives and strategies currently underway in the regions related to the management and utilization of forest carbon.
Takeaways and Student Research Poster Competition Awards
6:00 PM
Reception at Delta Hotel
Registration & Light Breakfast
8:15 AM
Welcome to Atlantic BIOCON 2025
- Candice Pollack, ResearchNB
Candice is also deeply passionate about public policy and human rights discourses. She has contributed to published works on youth participation rights, children’s rights in a globalized economy, and knowledge translation for policy decision-making.
Candice values the various communities she is a part of and has been actively volunteering with local and national non-profits for over 15 years. She has volunteered with the Canadian Bar Association, the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers, NB Champions for Child Rights, the Canadian Student Association of Children’s Rights, and more. Currently, Candice is the Second Vice-Chair of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick.
8:30 AM
Atlantic Canada's Place in the World
Canada is facing a monumental shift in its established trading partnerships. The need to diversify products and markets to bolster robustness and resiliency has never been greater, and the opportunity never more apparent. The panel will explore Canada’s strengths in a global marketplace related to its primary sectors, and the role of the bioeconomy in underpinning this growth.
- Moderator: David Campbell, Jupia Consultants
Michelle Robichaud, Atlantica Centre for Energy
Glenn Fillmore, Saint John Energy
David Alward, Former Consul General of Canada and Premier of NB
Measuring & Aligning Our Bioeconomy Assets
Head of Special Projects and BDO Zone Initiative, Aryn is passionate about people and fostering authentic connections that drive success.
10:00 AM
Break, B2B Meetings, Trade Show and Poster Viewing
10:30 AM
Natural Products Canada: Biomass and Biomaterials
Natural Products Canada plays a critical role in supporting the development of bio-based companies nationally. This panel will highlight a selection of companies that NPC is currently working with in Atlantic Canada that demonstrate the caliber of talent being produced and supported in our backyard.
- Moderator: Barbara Campbell, Natural Products Canada
Aaliyah Lahai, Gaamai Hair
Myrna Gillis, Finleaf Technologies
Quinn Cavanagh, RFINE Biomass Solutions
Lunch, B2B Meetings, Trade Show and Poster Viewing
12:30 PM
Partners in Progress: Spotlight on Supporting OrganizationsGreenspring Bioinnovation Hub’s RapidFermTech is an intensive 3-week upskilling program that prepares participants for careers as Fermentation Technicians in Nova Scotia’s emerging bioeconomy. The program blends guided online learning with in-person, hands-on training at the Verschuren Centre and INNOV, equipping participants with the technical skills and industry context needed to work in industrial fermentation. This presentation will highlight the program’s structure, outcomes from its first cohort, and lessons learned as the second cohort is delivered.
1:00 PM
Ports: Centres of Bioeconomy Acceleration
Ports have become the global epicentre for new technology development and deployment. They are ground zero for the piloting and scale-up of new energy and biotechnologies. Atlantic Canadas ports can and are playing a significant role in attracting inward investment and new partnership opportunities. This panel will explore the growing role of ports in the region beyond logistics.
- Moderator: Meaghan Seagrave, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Craig Estabrooks, Port Saint John
Denis Caron, Port of Belledune
Kathleen Yurchesyn, NovaPorte
Paths to Food Security
New regional coalitions are joining forces to enhance dialogue among food-focused groups across Atlantic provinces, emphasizing collaboration for local food initiatives. School food programs are marked as the most significant social program in decades; Newfoundland is set to buy 40,000 meals daily, offering notable economic impact. Healthcare food procurement in long-term care homes like Station Food Hub collaborating with Nova Scotia Health Authority, present additional opportunities for local food sourcing. Unfortunately, access to funding poses a major challenge for primary producers, especially obtaining loans from traditional lenders and investors.
Josh MacFayden’s research on circular economy projects includes ‘Animals in the Circular Economy Across Canada’ and historical food production in Atlantic communities, highlighting sustainability practices over time. Josh Smee’s understanding of structural challenges in local food systems has identified institutional procurement as a key opportunity; all four provinces launching universal school food programs with low local sourcing, plus infrastructure gaps hindering small producers.
- Moderator: Danielle Connell, Research NB
Joshua MacFayden, UPEI CRC Geospatial Humanities
Greg Curwin, Novagevity
Josh Smee, Food First NL
Lunch, B2B Meetings, Trade Show and Poster Viewing
3:30 PM
Forestry: Carbon Solutions
Understanding forest carbon is becoming increasingly important for Canadian forest companies for numerous reasons. The management of forest carbon not only represents a meaningful way of mitigating climate impacts, but can represent new economic opportunities, and in some cases is becoming necessary for market access. This panel will explore some of the initiatives and strategies currently underway in the regions related to the management and utilization of forest carbon.
- Moderator: Rod Badcock, Greenspring Bioinnovation Hub
Craig Tupper, Community Forests International
Nicole Ross, JD Irving Project NextGen
Mark Masotti, Alter Biota
Takeaways and Student Research Poster Competition Awards
6:00 PM
Reception at Delta Hotel
Day 3 - Thursday, June 5 (Half Day)
7:30 AM
Breakfast, B2B Partnering Meetings
8:15 AM
Welcome to Day 38:30 AM
Biomass: Unlocking Energy & Products
Biomass is arguably one of Atlantic Canadas greatest assets. While we may not have the volume of other jurisdictions, we do have biomass available at commercial scale, and diversity of available biomass that supports numerous value-adding opportunities. This panel will focus on the increasing role of biomass in the region’s energy mix.
9:30 AM
Live Podcast with David Campbell & Don Mills
David Campbell and Don Mills are renowned economists and the host of the podcast Insights. David and Don will be hosting a live podcast to explore the bioeconomy in Atlantic Canada, its potential, and what is required to help the region meet its potential.
10:15 AM
Break, B2B Meetings, Trade Show and Poster Viewing
10:45 AM
Healthy Oceans: The Ocean Economy & Sustainability
The global blue economy is expected to see significant growth over the next decade. Marine biotechnology, sustainable aquaculture and fisheries, marine transport and logistics and marine renewable energy are just a few of the opportunities ahead of Atlantic Canada. This panel will look at current and emerging opportunities for the region’s blue economy.
11:45 AM
Conference Wrap-Up
Breakfast, B2B Partnering Meetings
8:15 AM
Welcome to Day 38:30 AM
Biomass: Unlocking Energy & Products
Biomass is arguably one of Atlantic Canadas greatest assets. While we may not have the volume of other jurisdictions, we do have biomass available at commercial scale, and diversity of available biomass that supports numerous value-adding opportunities. This panel will focus on the increasing role of biomass in the region’s energy mix.
9:30 AM
Live Podcast with David Campbell & Don Mills
David Campbell and Don Mills are renowned economists and the host of the podcast Insights. David and Don will be hosting a live podcast to explore the bioeconomy in Atlantic Canada, its potential, and what is required to help the region meet its potential.
10:15 AM
Break, B2B Meetings, Trade Show and Poster Viewing
10:45 AM
Healthy Oceans: The Ocean Economy & Sustainability
The global blue economy is expected to see significant growth over the next decade. Marine biotechnology, sustainable aquaculture and fisheries, marine transport and logistics and marine renewable energy are just a few of the opportunities ahead of Atlantic Canada. This panel will look at current and emerging opportunities for the region’s blue economy.
11:45 AM
Conference Wrap-Up
