The beer sector contributes over $13.6 billion to the Canadian GDP and yeast diversity is one of the main tools used by brewers to create product diversity leading to increased economic impact. Dr. Van Der Merwe and Escarpment Labs have received the University of Guelph Innovation of the Year Award for isolating and characterizing regional yeast strains for the craft beer industry. Many of these yeasts are now available to breweries across Canada through Escarpment Labs.