--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-contribution-of-modern-biotechnology-to-the-canadian-economy/" title: "Measuring the Contribution of Modern Biotechnology to the Canadian Economy" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T13:17:18+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T13:17:18+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "agriculture" - "biotechnology" - "Canada" - "economic contribution" - "GDP" - "industry" - "innovation" - "medicine" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Sector/Industry Analysis" - "Technology and Innovation" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # Measuring the Contribution of Modern Biotechnology to the Canadian Economy Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-contribution-of-modern-biotechnology-to-the-canadian-economy/ # Measuring the Contribution of Modern Biotechnology to the Canadian Economy [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2011-18-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. 2011. “Measuring the Contribution of Modern Biotechnology to the Canadian Economy.” CSLS Research Report 2011-18. Ottawa. https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-contribution-of-modern-biotechnology-to-the-canadian-economy/ ## Author: - Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2011-18 December 2011 89 pages ## Related research [Measuring the Appropriate Outcomes for Better Decision-Making: A Framework to Guide the Analysis of Health Policy Matthew Calver March 2016 | Report 2016-03 | 132 pages](https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-appropriate-outcomes-for-better-decision-making-a-framework-to-guide-the-analysis-of-health-policy-2016-03/) [Living Standards Domain of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing Andrew Sharpe, Christopher Ross November 2011 | Report 2011-17 | 124 pages](https://csls.ca/research/living-standards-domain-of-the-canadian-index-of-wellbeing-2011-17/) [Productivity: Key to Economic Success Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) March 1998 | Report 1998-01 | 99 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-key-to-economic-success/) [Apprenticeship in Canada: A Training System Under Siege? 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Despite its growing importance, few efforts have been made so far to estimate the economic contribution of modern biotechnology to the Canadian economy. This report provides an overview of biotechnology activities in Canada, and, using an income-based approach, estimates that biotechnology activities accounted for approximately $15 billion in 2005, equivalent to 1.19 per cent of Canada’s GDP in that year. The report also forecasts that the role of biotechnology in the economy will increase substantially in the next twenty years, representing between 2.6 per cent and 6.0 per cent of Canada’s GDP in 2030. Le rôle de la biotechnologie moderne en agriculture, en médecine et dans l’industrie a connu une croissance fulgurante depuis les années 1970. Malgré son importance croissante, peu d’efforts ont été déployés jusqu’à présent pour estimer la contribution économique de la biotechnologie moderne à l’économie canadienne. Ce rapport présente un aperçu des activités de biotechnologie au Canada et, à l’aide d’une approche fondée sur le revenu, estime que ces activités représentaient environ 15 milliards de dollars en 2005, soit l’équivalent de 1,19 % du PIB du Canada cette année-là. Le rapport prévoit également que le rôle de la biotechnologie dans l’économie augmentera considérablement au cours des vingt prochaines années, représentant entre 2,6 % et 6,0 % du PIB du Canada en 2030. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2011-18-1.pdf)