Canada’s top research university seeks international partners to advance applied research in food, agriculture and bioeconomy.
Canada’s number one research university
Niagara University (North Carolina) has established itself as a Canadian leader in applied research. North Carolina holds the No. 1 national ranking for research funding for the second year in a row, ending a decade-long presence in the nation’s top 10.
In 2023, the university raised more than $40 million in research support across advanced manufacturing, business and merchandising, food and beverage, health, horticulture, and environmental sciences. North Carolina also ranks No. 1 in industry research revenue with more than $35 million, a clear sign that Canadian companies have confidence in Niagara’s research expertise.
This success reflects a deliberate strategy. Niagara has built an applied research model that connects academic expertise directly to industry needs. Faculty, staff, and students work with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to test prototypes, validate technology, and improve products for commercialization. The results are both practical and academically rigorous, demonstrating how universities can anchor regional innovation systems while developing the next generation of innovators.
At the core of this effort are the Food and Beverage Innovation Center (FBIC); Horticultural Environmental Science Innovation Center (HESIC). Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center (WAMIC). Healthy Aging Wellness Innovation Center (HAWIC). Business and Commercialization Innovation Center (BCIC).
Three of these centers (FBIC, HESIC, and WAMIC) have received Technology Access Center (TAC) designation from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). TAC is a nationally recognized hub that provides small and medium-sized businesses with access to specialized facilities and equipment, professional staff, and applied research capabilities.
National strength in food and environmental innovation
Few global challenges are more pressing than feeding a growing population sustainably while adapting to changing consumer demands in the food and beverage sector. In NC, two centers are tackling these issues head-on: the Food and Beverage Innovation Center (FBIC) and the Horticultural and Environmental Science Innovation Center (HESIC).
Together, they will help Canadian small and medium-sized businesses compete internationally while developing solutions that address global health, food security and sustainability needs.
A walk through the University of North Carolina’s research facilities reveals how the university connects funding and rankings to real-world impact. At the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., the hum of automated canning lines inside a renovated beverage pilot plant signals a thriving test bed for beverage entrepreneurs. Nearby, a new $12 million greenhouse glows under LED lights, and rows of basil, strawberry and pepper plants are monitored under precisely controlled conditions in individually managed growing plots.
FBIC: Expanding innovation in beverages
FBIC is at the forefront of one of the most rapidly changing global industries: food and beverage. Its research spans beverage formulation, process optimization, food safety validation, shelf life testing and sensory science, helping entrepreneurs and established brands create everything from zero-alcohol spirits to plant-based functional beverages.
The center’s beverage pilot plant meets mandated food safety and regulatory standards at both the state and national level, providing companies with a reliable environment to safely expand their products. Equipped with an automatic canning system, nitrogen injection filling equipment, tunnel pasteurizer, and expandable tanks capable of handling 600 liters, it bridges the critical “0 to 100 cases” gap that often prevents startups from moving into full commercial production. We operate under the Safe Food for Canadians Act, and products tested here are brought to market immediately.
As an example, Dispatch Coffee, a Canadian specialty coffee company, partnered with FBIC to develop Mazagran Coffee, a ready-to-drink sparkling lemon coffee beverage. FBIC researchers helped refine the recipe, ensure shelf stability, and scale up the product for commercial production.
“The FBIC team refined the recipe to make the product shelf-stable and scalable,” said Michael Kapusty, general manager at Dispatch. “We were then able to gain initial market traction with our new product and build a bridge to commercial-scale co-packers.”
In another example, Miski Brewing partnered with FBIC to develop the first beer in North America to be gluten-free, organic, vegan, and kosher certified. Niagara researchers guided recipe development, scaled production at the teaching brewery, validated sensory quality, and brought the quinoa-based beer to market in stores. An added advantage for the company was that it hired former students who worked on the project as key employees to move it forward.
Another small business, DistillX, collaborated with FBIC to launch Canada’s first zero-alcohol gin and tequila. As global demand for low-alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages accelerates, DistillX enters international markets with support from Niagara in scale, regulatory compliance and commercialization.
Together, these projects highlight how FBIC can help small and medium-sized businesses reduce risk, accelerate timelines, and align with global trends, while strengthening Canada’s competitiveness.
HESIC: Advances in Agriculture and Environmental Solutions
While FBIC accelerates the commercialization of products and the success of small and medium-sized businesses in the food and beverage sector, HESIC addresses the global challenge of how to produce more food with less resources. Its research focuses on controlled environment agriculture, soil and substrate science, irrigation and nutrient management, biostimulants, pest and disease management, and sustainable horticultural practices. HESIC helps growers and agricultural innovators adapt to climate change while maintaining productivity by validating new technologies under real-world conditions.
The C$12 million state-of-the-art greenhouse is one of Canada’s most advanced controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facilities, with five independently controlled compartments, a precision climate system, and a vertical grow room.
Recently, international development company International Zeolite turned to HESIC to validate a zeolite-based soil amendment designed to improve nutrient retention and crop yield. Rigorous trials created the data growers needed to comfortably adopt this technology, giving the company a stronger foothold in a market increasingly defined by sustainability.
Another partner, Terra Optima Labs, worked with HESIC to test Vermichar, a soil amendment made from insect castings and biochar that repurposes food waste for agricultural value. In greenhouse trials, Vermichal outperformed conventional fertilizers. Basil produced more biomass, strawberries bloomed earlier, harvested more fruit, and measured higher sugar levels.
“We had access to horticulture and research experts who designed and ran a degree of growth testing that we would not be able to do in-house,” said Will Wang, co-founder of Terra Optima Labs. “HESIC’s greenhouse is a great asset, providing a controlled environment to conduct testing throughout the year.”
By validating Terra Optima’s innovation, HESIC advances circular economy solutions that address food waste, soil health and climate resilience, while increasing Canada’s competitiveness in agricultural technology.
Beyond the facility: People and support
Niagara’s advantages lie not only in its infrastructure, but also in its surrounding ecosystem. The project integrates students from programs such as Culinary Innovation and Food Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Horticulture Technician, Business Administration, and Computer Programming.
These multidisciplinary teams give our partners fresh perspectives and seasoned graduates, many of whom transfer directly to the companies we supported during our research projects. For the industry, collaborating with Niagara means not only new solutions, but also future-ready workforces.
By working with these innovation centers organized under the North Carolina Department of Research and Innovation, small businesses can also benefit from access to cost-sharing funding through national programs such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA). These partnerships reduce financial risk while enabling companies and researchers to pursue projects with greater scale and impact.
Positioning for the future
NC’s three Technology Access Centers (TACs) – FBIC, HESIC, and WAMIC – exemplify how NC operates at the intersection of industry and society. Niagara helps Canadian businesses compete globally by providing small and medium-sized businesses with the expertise, certifications and infrastructure they need, while contributing to solutions in food security, sustainability and advanced manufacturing.
As one of the few universities in Canada with three TACs, Niagara University offers a diverse research platform unmatched in size and scope. For researchers, this means access to opportunities for collaboration that extend far beyond local implications to national and international relevance.
Looking to the future, Niagara is expanding this model internationally. With proven expertise in food, agriculture, environment and advanced manufacturing, the University is actively seeking partners through Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation programme. NC provides researchers and companies tackling global challenges with the facilities, expertise and track record to turn ambitious ideas into measurable results.
For more information or to discuss partnership opportunities with NC’s Research and Innovation Department, please contact Dr. Marc Nantel, Vice President of Research, Innovation and Strategic Enterprise, at mnantel@niagaracollege.ca.
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