Saskatoon entrepreneur is saving local crops with first-of-its-kind portable disease detection device. June 11, 2026 PathoScan Technologies' Ethan Done credits national innovation organization Mitacs for helping to make the breakthrough possible by providing crucial support for his startup With the Food and Agriculture Organization reporting that up to 40% of global crop production is lost to plant pests and diseases each year, triggering crop shortages that drive up food costs, an up-and-coming Saskatoon entrepreneur is on a mission to do something about it - and he's starting with saving crops across the province. Ethan Done, chief operating officer and co-founder of Saskatoon-based startup PathoScan Technologies, has co-invented a first-of-its-kind portable device with chief executive officer and co-founder Tayab Soomro that enables farmers to test the health of their crops right in their fields in under two hours. Until now, the only pathogen detection option was bringing plant samples to a government lab and waiting days or weeks for results. "This time lag can mean the difference between farmers losing their crop or having the ability to save their plants by treating them for diseases quickly, which ultimately helps protect both their livelihood and Canada's food supply, and brings the cost of food down," said Done, who launched the company in 2024 with Soomro. "We're harnessing our technology to make farming more efficient, sustainable and profitable," he explained. Done came up with the idea of a mobile testing device in 2022 as a University of Saskatchewan undergraduate student while working in a government agricultural internship. Tasked with demonstrating the government's pathogen testing service - a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test called Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) - at agricultural events, he said many farmers wanted to conduct tests right there, but the devices on display were for in-lab use only. "I saw that there was a problem and I wanted to help, which is what sparked the idea for a solution that's smaller, mobile, lightweight, and more affordable for the average producer," said Done, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology. With the support of Mitacs - a leading national innovation organization that connects businesses and researchers with unrivalled access to talent, financial support, and the partnerships needed to turn ideas into impactful innovations - Done and Soomro piloted their device, the PathoBox, on select Saskatchewan farms last summer, receiving positive response. They have since refined their technology for the upcoming season and are now developing an artificial intelligence (AI) component - due to be released next year - to make the device even more accurate. "Mitacs is the reason I'm able to work on this business full time and make the product better," said Done, 22, who is currently pursuing a PhD in research and development tied to his business at the University of Saskatchewan. "As a company co-founder, it's extremely hard to get funding for your salary and I'm very grateful that Mitacs has financially enabled me to focus on R&D so that not all our time has to be spent on sales," he said. To use the PathoBox - roughly the size of a lunchbox and weighing about a kilogram - producers fill a test tube with a chemical powder-water mixture, to which they add crushed pieces of plant. The tube is then placed into the device, which heats the sample and uses a molecular technique to make millions of copies of any pathogen DNA that might be on the plant. If pathogen levels are high, indicating disease, the liquid in the tube changes colour. One PathoBox can test up to eight tubes at once, enabling farmers to calculate the percentage of their field that may be infected based on the combined sample results. "At a time when we need to build a stronger and more resilient economy, partnerships like this collaboration between Mitacs and PathoScan demonstrate what's possible when we invest in ideas, embed talent, and work together to build innovation capacity and accelerate market commercialization for Saskatchewan and Canada's start-ups," notes Mitacs CEO Dr. Stephen Lucas, "Mitacs is proud to be part of the PathoScan story. It's a great example of innovation and Saskatchewan's Growth Plan at work." In last summer's pilot, Done said a producer was able to detect a pathogen early enough to treat it, "preventing $240,000 in yield losses and ensuring the food made it from the field to the local grocery store and into the community." The findings also allow farmers to take targeted action only where it's needed rather than applying pesticides broadly across their fields. Once the AI feature is launched next season, the device will integrate vision technology to detect more specifically how much disease is in each plant sample. It will then send a complete disease report and treatment recommendations to the farmer via smartphone within minutes. PathoScan's breakthrough earned Done a third-place finish in this year's Enactus Canada National Exposition, a prestigious student entrepreneur national competition which took place in Montreal in May. Focusing on entrepreneurship as a means for social change, the competition drew more than 100 submissions. "PathoScan is an exciting tool for us to use with growers to determine whether a fungicide is needed or not and will hopefully bridge the gap needed in the disease triangle that we have been missing for many years when it comes to deciding on fungicide use," said Weston Bohachewski, an agronomist with Melfort, Saskatchewan-based Shark Ag Consulting, which helps farmers manage their crops. "We hope to see it as our number one tool in disease detection going forward, especially sclerotinia in canola for fast, reliable results." About Mitacs. For over 25 years, Mitacs has helped grow the economy and develop the workforce of tomorrow, connecting industry with academia and global partners to solve real-world challenges. We support business-academic research collaboration through internships, co-funded with businesses, for undergraduate to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. As a national innovation connector, Mitacs takes a talent-first approach to strengthen innovation capacity and drive global competitiveness. We serve as an essential research-commercialization bridge, accelerating market entry and growth for new products and services. This is a critical time for Canada to think big and take bold action. Mitacs is ready to help build a strong and resilient Canadian economy, powered by ideas, talent and innovation. Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.

Mitacs and Kanata North Business Association sign MOU to strengthen innovation and talent development. April 10, 2026 Reading Time 6 minutes KANATA, ON - Mitacs, a national innovation organization, and the Kanata North Business Association (KNBA), which represents more than 700+ companies in Canada's Largest Technology Park, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to establish a framework for collaboration aimed at strengthening Canada's innovation ecosystem and addressing critical talent and research gaps. The MOU reflects the shared objectives of advancing industry-academic collaboration, supporting applied research and innovation, and building a strong talent pipeline within Kanata North, one of the country's most significant technology clusters. The agreement was signed by Derek Newton, Senior Vice-President, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Mitacs, and Kelly Daize, Executive Director of the KNBA, at an event held in Kanata, Ontario. Under the MOU, Mitacs and the KNBA will work together to strengthen connections between industry and academia, support R&D and innovation capacity, and help address talent shortages within the Kanata North technology ecosystem. The partnership creates opportunities to: * Support industry-academic collaboration and applied research * Strengthen talent pipelines by connecting academic researchers and interns with industry * Enable joint thought leadership, events, and ecosystem convenings * Pilot scalable collaboration models that can be replicated across Canada Together, the organizations will align their respective strengths to advance these opportunities. Mitacs contributes its national reach, funding programs, and academic networks, while the KNBA serves as a convener and connector for technology companies operating within Canada's largest technology park. Quotes. "By working together with KNBA, we can help strengthen industry-academic collaboration in one of Canada's thriving innovation clusters. This new partnership creates a foundation for collaboration that supports talent development, applied research, and the growth of technology companies in Kanata North and beyond." Derek Newton, Senior Vice-President, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Mitacs "Kanata North is home to Canada's Largest Technology Park, a concentrated and dynamic technology ecosystem. This collaboration with Mitacs will help connect our companies with academic expertise and emerging talent, while supporting innovation and commercialization." Kelly Daize, Executive Director, Kanata North Business Association About Mitacs. For over 25 years, Mitacs has helped grow the economy and develop the workforce of tomorrow, connecting industry with academia and global partners to solve real-world challenges. Mitacs Inc. support business-academic research collaboration through internships, co-funded with businesses, for undergraduate to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. As a national innovation connector, Mitacs takes a talent-first approach to strengthen innovation capacity and drive global competitiveness. Mitacs Inc. serve as an essential research-commercialization bridge, accelerating market entry and growth for new products and services. Discover more stories about Mitacs - and the game-changing innovations driven by students and postdocs.

Mitacs and North Forge partner to strengthen innovation across manitoban start-ups and companies. April 7, 2026 Reading Time 6 minutes Winnipeg, MB - Mitacs, a national innovation leader that bridges academia and industry, and North Forge, an award-winning not-for-profit tech incubator and state-of-the-art fabrication lab, are partnering to strengthen innovation ecosystems and create new pathways for collaboration across the province to support industry-driven innovation and economic growth. The partnership will explore pilot initiatives, thought leadership, and knowledge sharing that advance shared goals in innovation, R&D, and commercialization. Through stronger referral pathways and complementary programming, the partnership will also open new opportunities for industry-academia collaboration. Mitacs places top-tier talent in Canadian firms, to support industry-academia collaboration - helping Canadian businesses compete globally while developing the next generation of a skilled and innovative workforce. North Forge hosts one of North America's largest publicly accessible fabrication labs (FabLab(TM), where startups and makers have access to cutting-edge tools and technologies to bring their visions to life. Between 2018-19 and 2024-25 in Manitoba, Mitacs invested more than $42 million across over 1,100 innovation projects with over 1,500 interns and nearly 400 industry partners. Quotes. "Mitacs is proud to partner with North Forge, creating stronger pathways to commercialization for Canadian start-ups and small- to medium-sized companies. Together, we'll pilot initiatives and foster knowledge sharing partnerships that advance our mutual goal of increasing Canada's productivity through innovation, R&D, and collaboration." Dr. Stephen Lucas, CEO, Mitacs "This partnership with Mitacs strengthens how we support innovation in Manitoba. By connecting startups to research, talent, and new collaboration opportunities, we are helping more ideas move from concept to commercialization. Together, we are building a stronger, more competitive innovation ecosystem that drives real economic growth." Joelle Foster, CEO and President, North Forge About Mitacs. For over 25 years, Mitacs has helped grow the economy and develop the workforce of tomorrow, connecting industry with academia and global partners to solve real-world challenges. Mitacs Inc. support business-academic research collaboration through internships, co-funded with businesses, for undergraduate to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. As a national innovation connector, Mitacs takes a talent-first approach to strengthen innovation capacity and drive global competitiveness. Mitacs Inc. serve as an essential research-commercialization bridge, accelerating market entry and growth for new products and services. This is a critical time for Canada to think big and take bold action. Mitacs is ready to help build a strong and resilient Canadian economy, powered by ideas, talent and innovation. Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon. About North Forge. North Forge is an award-winning not-for-profit tech incubator and state-of-the-art fabrication lab. Mitacs Inc. fuel Manitoba's innovative science-based, technology-enabled, and advanced manufacturing startups from ideation to investor readiness by offering unparalleled programming and resources to help startups grow. Its facilities boast one of North America's largest publicly accessible fabrication labs (FabLab), where startups have access to cutting-edge tools and technologies. Join a community that drives innovation and builds connections. Media Contacts Caroline Dobuzinskis Manager, Communications & Public Affairs Mitacs [email protected] | 236-334-3863 Ziona Eyob Senior Communications & Public Affairs Specialist Mitacs [email protected] North Forge: Joelle Foster President and CEO, North Forge [email protected] 204-390-6144 Discover more stories about Mitacs - and the game-changing innovations driven by students and postdocs.