BioPharm Division

Biosecure Growth Chambers

There is a new revolution in plant-based biopharmaceutical production that combines strict genetic containment, accelerated plant growth and unrivalled environmental control. The key to this new technology is the biosecure growth chamber (BGC). Given the changing regulatory enviroment, this concept is a viable solution for plant-made pharmaceutical drug development.

Canadian Operations

In 1990, Prairie Plant Systems Inc. entered into a joint venture with Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Co. Ltd., for the establishment of the first state-of-the-art underground growth chamber in a copper and zinc mine at Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. Plants are grown in an unused portion of the mine 360 metres below the earth’s surface. The goal of the initial project was to evaluate the quality, quantity, and cost of producing a variety of crops in the mine drift.

Plants, particularly C3 plants, benefit significantly from the underground environment and exhibit a dramatic increase in growth without altering the basic phytochemical profile.

During the 13 years the underground operation has been in existence, research has been conducted on over 500 plant species including various softwood and hardwood species, culinary herbs, nutraceuticals, ornamentals and agricultural crops. Examples include species of Nicotiana, Taxus, Maize, Brassica, Populus, Echinacea, and Ocimum.

Based on the success and security of the underground facility, the company was awarded a five-year contract by Health Canada for the development of comprehensive operations for the cultivation and fabrication of marihuana in Canada. The underground growth chamber and bioprocessing facility constructed for this contract is GMP compliant and has attained a Level 7 security designation.

Although the current project occupies 12,000 ft², the Flin Flon operation has approximately 300,000 ft² for future potential development.

US Operations

The first underground chamber for the U.S. subsidiary, SubTerra LLC, was constructed and commenced operations in White Pine, Michigan in 2000. In that same year, SubTerra LLC was contracted for the growth, production and harvest of transgenic tobacco seed used in cancer research.

SubTerra continues to cultivate and process biopharmaceutical plant species with several industry collaborators. The potential underground growth chamber and bioprocessing area available for expansion exceeds 65 acres (3 million ft²).

Plant production in a biosecure underground growth chamber allows for the efficient use of research and development funds by reducing the costs associated with regulatory approvals for genetic containment in the early stages of biopharmaceutical development.

Advantages of Biosecure Underground Growth Chambers