Investments & Finance

Nova Scotia Expands Precision Fermentation Hub with $1M Investment

The Government of Nova Scotia is investing over 1 million Canadian dollars to expand the capabilities of the Verschuren Centre’s fermentation plant in Cape Breton, aiming to enhance automation, support additional clients, and create skilled jobs in the biomanufacturing sector.

“The Verschuren Centre is able to address the demand for sustainable products […] by matching assets only available in Europe and Mexico”

With a contribution of $1,055,000 from the province’s Community Economic Development Fund, the Verschuren Centre will increase its client capacity from 40 to 50, allowing it to accommodate more advanced projects. The expansion is expected to drive further direct investment and job creation in the sector.

According to Glace Bay-Dominion MLA John White, the initiative is a milestone for both Cape Breton and the Verschuren Centre, positioning it as the largest and only provider of precision fermentation of this scale in Canada. “Products manufactured here in Sydney will increase productivity for the biomanufacturing sector and meet a key supply chain sustainability goal for Canadian and Nova Scotian manufacturing companies,” White stated.

Verschuren Centre
© Verschuren Centre

The funding will also support the development of an in-house training program, created in partnership with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick community colleges. The program will focus on skills development in electronics, digitization, process engineering, and fermentation technology to address the growing industry demand for specialized expertise.

Strengthening Nova Scotia’s biomanufacturing sector

Beth Mason, executive chair of the Verschuren Centre, explained, “With continued support from the Province, the Verschuren Centre is able to address the demand for sustainable products in the supply chain for Canadian manufacturing by matching assets only available in Europe and Mexico,” she said.

The Verschuren Centre has been a focal point for biomanufacturing in Canada, housing a pilot-scale bioreactor—one of only three in the country. In 2022, the province invested $2.5 million in the development of its demonstration plant. Biomanufacturing, which utilizes living systems such as animal cells and plant cells to produce commercial materials, plays an increasingly critical role in supply chain sustainability and economic development.

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