Canadian Bio-Systems Inc.

When Owen Jones was selling animal feed to farmers after he graduated from university, he was struck by their interest in enhancing their feeding programs with more natural ingredients. Today the company he founded in 1984, Canadian Bio-Systems Inc. (CBS), develops novel enzyme supplements for animal feed that help farmers improve production while reducing environmental contaminants.

Calgary-based CBS is the world leader in enzyme technology and its application in the aquaculture, livestock and poultry feed industries. Enzymes are natural, safe additives that help animals absorb more nutrients from their feed. Some animals lack the enzymes necessary to digest certain components of their feed. To address this, CBS develops enzymes by a process that identifies and extracts indigestible components and matches them with an enzyme complex that hydrolyzes them to improve digestive efficiency.

CBS’s proprietary enzyme supplements help animals digest some proteins, carbohydrates, fats and phosphorous that would otherwise be wasted. They also have a positive impact on the environment by reducing the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous in excretions. By helping animals absorb more nutrients from their feed, the supplements allow farmers to raise healthier animals for less money, saving an estimated $50 million per year in Canada alone. The company is also working to develop natural immune system enhancers aimed at reducing the use of antibiotics to promote growth.