Kelowna Firm a Role Model for Innovation

(January 7, 2005 – Kelowna, BC) – Senator D. Ross Fitzpatrick (Okanagan-Similkameen), on behalf of the Honourable David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), today announced that AgriForest Bio-technologies Ltd. of Kelowna has been recognized by the NRC as a Canadian Innovation Leader and a role model for technology-based innovation.

"Through the Canadian Innovation Leaders initiative, NRC is celebrating entrepreneurs and innovators who are creating jobs and helping all of Canada benefit from investments in research and development," said Minister Emerson.

Senator Fitzpatrick made the announcement at AgriForest's Kelowna research and development facilities where the firm is developing advanced plant biotechnology techniques to provide tissue culture trees, ornamental shrubs, flowers, and nutraceutical plants.

"The Government of Canada is proud to celebrate the achievements of firms like AgriForest," said Senator Fitzpatrick. "We need more Canadian companies that are committed to linking scientific discoveries to commercialization, growth, and job creation."

The Canadian Innovation Leader initiative celebrates the successes of innovative Canadian firms identified by the NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), Canada's premier innovation assistance program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Recognized globally for research and innovation, Canada's National Research Council (NRC) is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology.

For more information, please consult our Web site: http://irap-pari.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/english/innovation/agriforest_e.html

For more information, please visit the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca, or contact:

Dominique Guérin-Garnett
Head, Communications, NRC-IRAP
Tel.:(613) 991-5367

Stéphanie Leblanc
Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson
Minister of Industry
Tel.: (613) 995-9001

Michelle Hancock
Office of Senator D. Ross Fitzpatrick
Tel.: (613) 992-4974
E-mail: hancom@sen.parl.gc.ca

Pierre Naud
Media Relations, NRC
Tel.: (613) 990-6091
Cell: (613) 293-6617
E-mail: media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca