Genome Prairie announces Agriculture Genomics Action Centre to advance coordination and collaboration for agriculture and food systems research

Genome Prairie, in partnership with Genome Canada, announced the launch of the Agriculture Genomics Action Centre (AGAC) project, as part of the recently announced Climate-Smart Agriculture Food Systems (CSAF) initiative. The AGAC will be a knowledge hub for further advances in genomics research relating to agriculture and food production in Canada.

This announcement includes $2.3 million in federal support from the Canadian Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development via Genome Canada and $2.4 million in additional funding from provincial governments and industry partners.

The AGAC project will gather research outputs from nine major agricultural genomics projects that began in 2023. The AGAC will support sharing information and data from those projects to create greater conditions for collaboration within the CSAF initiative and the agriculture sector.

Team members of the ACTIVATE project, which will play a role in the AGAC project. From l-r, Dr. Nicholas Tyack, Lacey-Anne Sanderson, Dr. Kirstin Bett, Dr. Curtis Pozniak, Dr. Sean Walkowiak, Dr. Kate Congreves, and Laura Jardine. Photo credit: mattbradenphoto

Set to be fully operational by 2027, the AGAC project will be a joint effort, co-administered by Genome Prairie and Ontario Genomics. The AGAC project is co-led by Dr. Nancy Tout from the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. Lupin Battersby of Simon Fraser University and Elizabeth Shantz from the University of Guelph, showcasing the collaborative spirit of the initiative.

The overall objective of the AGAC will be to serve as a knowledge hub, facilitating short and long-term impacts that will propel agriculture forward in Canada. By simultaneously enhancing food production while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, the AGAC will help pave the way for a more sustainable future. When completed, the AGAC’s collective expertise will maximize value from information-rich genomics projects that will significantly impact agriculture in Canada and reduce emissions from the essential agriculture sector.

The knowledge produced from AGAC will be shared among academic institutions, research facilities, government, non-profit organizations, producer groups and industry, fostering outcomes that will also benefit regional economies across Canada and society as a whole.

The AGAC project will bring together a diverse range of partners, including Research Impact Canada, Simon Fraser University, University of Saskatchewan, the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, McGill University, Guelph University, and companies, including Central Standards Association.

Dr. Nancy Tout, CSO at the Global Institute for Food Security, is a co-lead for the AGAC project.

Quotes:

″Genome Prairie is delighted to be a project co-lead for this important initiative. As genomics-based discoveries continue accelerating in Canada, they will improve our lives while protecting the environment. These genomics-based advances must be shared among the wider research and policy communities. Furthering and enhancing coordinated and collaborative approaches to genomics will invariably result in more discoveries and greater beneficial impacts that will benefit Canada.″

– Mike Cey, President and CEO, Genome Prairie

″The Global institute for Food Security’s mission underlines collaboration with partners to accelerate research and deliver meaningful innovation for the market. Working together through this Centre, we will help make knowledge relevant and usable so it can inform policy creation and support the commercialization of climate-smart solutions with economic, environmental and social benefits for Canada’s agri-food sector.″

– Dr. Nancy Tout, Chief Scientific Officer, Global Institute for Food Security

″Genomics research is instrumental in responding to national and global challenges, such as climate change and food insecurity. Today’s announcement of $6.6 million in federal funding for two new genomics hubs underscores Canada’s leadership in genomics research. These hubs are critical to ensuring Canadian research remains at the forefront globally, advancing innovative solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of our food production systems.″

– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

″Getting genomics into the hands of those who will implement, commercialize and innovate is a key goal of our Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems portfolio. The new knowledge mobilization and data hubs will support a coordinated and collaborative approach, mobilizing the research and innovation generated by the portfolio of nine interdisciplinary projects to deliver greater collective impact for Canada in its fight against climate change.″

– Dr. Rob Annan, President and CEO, Genome Canada

Quick Facts:

• Genome Prairie, an administrative co-lead in this project, was founded in 2001, and has overseen numerous genomics-based research projects in Saskatchewan and Manitoba totaling over $350 million.

• Of the nine Canadian climate-smart agriculture projects announced in 2023, Genome Prairie was awarded lead or co-lead for four of the projects, totaling nearly $30 million. These projects are mainly focused on advancing agriculture and food production systems in Canada, while at the same time, mitigating or reducing their net greenhouse gas emissions.

• The Climate Smart Data Collaboration Centre represents a total investment of $11.1 million, of which $4.3 million comes from Genome Canada and $6.8 million from co-funders.

• The Agricultural Genomics in Action Centre represents an investment of $4.7million, of which $2.3 million comes from Genome Canada and another $2.4 million from co-funders.

• In September 2023, Genome Canada announced an investment of nearly $70 million in the CSAFS initiative, with $27 million from Genome Canada and $42 million from co-funders for the nine interdisciplinary research teams delivering genomics solutions.