b'FIELDS OF THE FUTUREUnleashing Proteins PotentialPlant-based protein is a big deal, with demand growing by leaps and bounds. As a result, researchers are going about boosting the protein value of protein-rich crops. Logan Skori is one of the people at the forefront of this research. At just 30 years old, he leads Calgary-based AgGene as its chief executive officer. Skori was raised on a grain farm and has experience in the ag sector, previ-ously working as a crop production advisor for Nutrien. He says he spent a lot of his life riding in the combine and seeing yield loss and crop damage in the field. That motivated him to pursue a PhD in plant developmental biology at the University of Calgary, on which he is cur-rently working. AgGene, which he co-founded, is focused on using new plant breeding techniques to increase protein content in important Canadian crops, including canola. AgGene has identified an important cluster of genes which regu-late the accumulation of storage proteins.We have seen protein increase anywhere from five per cent to 20 per cent. Weve identified a handful of genes that we can manipulate to boost protein content, he says. We can actually channel some of the compounds within the seed toward protein production. Its a com-plex network of genes, but the technology itself is fairly straightforward.That technology is needed as the global popula-tion continues to grow rapidly and more consumers think about their health and the environment, notes the National Research Council of Canada in its report Plant-Based Protein Market: Global and Canadian Market Analysis. The demand for animal-protein alternatives, meat replacements and other non-animal industrial ingredients has rapidly increased. Cultural, health and environmental changes have all combined to create favourable market conditions for the rise of plant-based protein, it states. It goes on to note that annual global sales of plant-based meat alternatives have grown an average of eight perLogan Skori leads Calgary-based AgGene as its chief executive officer.cent a year since 2010, with projections forecasting that, in 25 years, 20 per cent of meat will consist of plant-basedbasis, so this technology also has humanitarian applica-and so-called clean meat. Global revenue for plant-basedtions as well.dairy is expected to reach US$34 billion in 2024. TheAgGene is based at the Life Sciences Innovation Hub plant-based beverage market has grown approximately 33at Innovate Calgary, but Skori also consults in the plant per cent annually over the past five years.biotech space. Ever the innovator, he created a home-Looking at the landscape of the protein industry,based workspace where he can make his technological weve seen lots of success with some of these meat alter- dreams into reality.natives. We need to start looking at increasing proteinIve always wanted to have my own area that I could content in some of the seeds that basically serve as aget into and just follow up on my ideas. I converted my precursor for a lot of these different plant-based foods,garage into a lab space where I can do tissue cultures, Skori says.molecular cloning, that kind of thing. Its a place for me On top of that, theres still over 600 million peoplethat I can slip away to and just do some basic R&D and across the globe that are deficient in protein on a dailyjust kind of explore some of the curiosities that I have.14GERMINATION.CANOVEMBER 2021'