Investment in agribusiness experienced a boom in the early 2020s, when investor enthusiasm for food security, supply chain resilience and agricultural innovation surged in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Venture capital...more
Wittington Investments, the Weston family’s holding company, recently announced a C$100 million fund to support Canadian food producers. This initiative, part of Galen Weston’s broader C$1 billion philanthropic commitment,...more
It is clear that the global push for green innovation is no longer just aspirational, it is structural. Over the past decade, countries around the world have implemented a mosaic of policies to accelerate environmentally...more
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)'s decision to cancel its Climate Change Mitigation pilot program for patents has not gone unnoticed in Canada. For Canadian policymakers and agri-tech innovators, this...more
Across the Atlantic, the European Union (EU) and its member states have also been encouraging climate-resilient agri-tech innovation, but their approach to intellectual property (IP) incentives has been a bit different. The...more
9/12/2025
/ Agricultural Sector ,
Canada ,
EU ,
European Patent Office ,
Green Technology ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Patent Applications ,
Patent Prosecution Highway ,
Patents ,
Sustainability ,
Unitary Patent
The United States has long been a major player in both agri-tech innovation and the intellectual property (IP) landscape. In the past, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offered its own version of a green...more
9/10/2025
/ Agribusiness ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Green Technology ,
Innovation ,
Patent Applications ,
Patent Examinations ,
Patents ,
Popular ,
Renewable Energy ,
USPTO
Climate change is driving a surge in agricultural technology (agri-tech) innovations aimed at making farming more resilient and sustainable. From drought-resistant crops to carbon-capturing soil techniques, these...more
Private equity investment in the food and beverage industry continues to steadily increase, driven in part by evolving consumer preferences and a heightened focus on sustainability. In 2024, private equity deal activity in...more
In a significant development for farmers and the agricultural industry, amendments made last year to the Canadian Copyright Act have introduced new exemptions related to the right to repair and digital interoperability. These...more
Alberta has long been a powerhouse in Canada’s agricultural sector, with a strong legacy in farming, ranching and agribusiness innovation. Recently, over 200 people from firms like Nutrien, BASF, Baker Tilly Canada, TELUS...more
The world of intellectual property (IP) underwent some significant transformations this summer, with recent changes from the U.S. Federal Circuit and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) reshaping the landscape of...more
Canada's modernized Feeds Regulations, 2024 aim to enhance safety standards for food and animal feed while supporting Canadian producers. The regulations were published in the Canada Gazette Part II on July 3, 2024, and...more
On May 24, 2024, after nearly 25 years of negotiations, the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) announced that member states, including Canada, had agreed to a new Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and...more
In this follow-up blog, we explore the intricacies of artificial intelligence (AI) patents in the AgTech and Agribusiness industry, highlighting significant hurdles and strategic considerations essential to keep front of mind...more
This blog is part of a two-part series on patents and artificial intelligence technology in the AgTech and Agribusiness Industry. Part two, Cultivating Innovation in Agribusiness: Drafting AI Patents outlines some of the...more
The widely anticipated "right to repair" legislation is drawing increasingly closer to becoming law in Canada. If it receives royal assent, the law is expected to critically impact the agricultural and automotive industries....more
Vertical farming is gaining momentum in Canada, driven in large part by changing consumer tastes, the need for greater sustainability and advanced technology....more