REGINA, Sask. — PathoScan has been selected as the winner of the Aquatic Invasive Species Innovation Challenge.
PathoScan, a Saskatoon-based biotechnology company, will adapt its PathoBox rapid diagnostic platform, originally developed to support early detection of disease in agricultural crops, to strengthen early zebra mussel detection and help prevent their spread in Saskatchewan waters.
According to Innovation Saskatchewan and the Ministry of Environment, the proposed solution will enable inspectors and conservation officers to test water samples collected from watercraft, roadside inspection stations and other high-risk locations and produce reliable results on-site in one to two hours, supporting faster inspection, containment and response decisions.
Current zebra mussel monitoring relies primarily on physical inspections and laboratory testing, which can make it difficult to detect contamination early enough to support rapid response efforts.
PathoScan's solution brings lab-level molecular testing directly into the field, detecting genetic material released by zebra mussels. This technology can identify microscopic larvae and mussels hidden in hard-to-reach areas that may be missed during visual inspections, while reducing testing time and associated costs.
The platform could also be adapted to detect other invasive species, expanding its potential applications while creating opportunities for broader adoption in jurisdictions seeking faster, more scalable monitoring tools.
"Early detection can make all the difference when it comes to preventing the spread of zebra mussels," Environment Minister Darlene Rowden said. "Tools that help identify potential introductions sooner can strengthen Saskatchewan's response efforts and support the long-term protection of our lakes and waterways."
"The Innovation Challenge shows how Saskatchewan-made technologies can help solve real-world challenges while creating opportunities for growth," Minister Responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan Warren Kaeding said.
"PathoScan's success demonstrates the value of supporting innovation at every stage, helping promising technologies find new applications and reach new markets."
PathoScan will receive a $30,000 grant and a 16-week residency to work directly with the Ministry of Environment to further validate the technology and support future operational use. The project builds on $75,000 in Agtech Growth Fund support received in 2024 that helped advance development of the crop disease detection platform.
Through the Innovation Challenge, PathoScan is now adapting that technology to address a new challenge, demonstrating how targeted support at different stages of development can help Saskatchewan companies advance innovations from R&D to new markets and applications.
"We are excited to work with the Ministry of Environment to apply our technology to a new challenge with real impact for Saskatchewan," PathoScan COO Ethan Done said.
"This project will help us show how rapid molecular testing can support invasive species detection while validating the technology for broader adoption."
Stakeholders representing the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport, Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) and Water Security Agency (WSA) contributed to the judging process, providing expertise to support the evaluation of finalist pitches presented at Solutions Day.
