Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems initiative expected to help strengthen climate change resilience
The Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems initiative launched May 12 as Genome Canada received a $30 million federal investment into agricultural genomic research to reduce Canada’s carbon footprint.
A Genome Canada news statement said it will “fund a portfolio of interdisciplinary genomics research and innovation projects connected by cross cutting programs designed to ensure they translate into solutions for Canadians.”
Genome Canada also stated that “with co-funding from partners, this will mean a $60-million genomics investment to help Canada strengthen climate change resilience and achieve a net-zero carbon future.”
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Genome Canada is the over-arching organization that promotes genomic research across Canada, with six regional centres across Canada: Genome B.C., Genome Alberta, Genome Prairie, Ontario Genomics, Genome Quebec and Genome Atlantic.
It has been in operation since 2000.
The organization works with the Canadian government to address federal priorities for genomics.
“Climate change poses serious risk to agricultural systems and the availability of food and other vital resources — from fuels to the raw materials used to develop everyday products,” said Genome Canada in the release.
Lester Young, director of scientific affairs for Genome Prairie, said Genome Prairie, with support from regional centres, funds genomics researchers and industry partners to look at genomics technology.
Research institutes will be “looking at developing genomics technologies that will help maintain producer productivity or potentially decrease input costs for agricultural production, without increasing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Young.
“This might include projects that look at the resilience of agricultural food production systems in the face of climate change.”
Research proposals are expected to finish in May 2023. Then, if accepted, they will be researched for about five years.
Genomics research, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute, is “the study of all of an organisms’ genes, including interactions of those genes with each other and with the person’s environment.”
“There are changes occurring all the time,” said Young. “If we’re talking about crops, it’s the changes in the makeup of the crops that are coming through, and new varieties coming out all the time.”
Young said livestock genetics are also improving.
“And there’s also lots of interest in soil management programs and research into soil management, and genomics can also be used to understand what’s happening when different soil management practices are put into effect.”
