Sequence #5: Yes, Genomics Can Help With That
Published: July 13th 2018Genomics is proving to be a game changer for many resource industries critical to Atlantic Canada’s economic growth.
Nova Scotia’s Minister of Energy Geoff MacLellan recently announced details of his department’s $11.8-million commitment to Phase Two of Nova Scotia’s offshore growth strategy.
MacLellan acknowledged the important role of innovative technologies like genomics in helping to ‘de-risk’ offshore exploration and showed Genome Atlantic’s newly-produced video “Reducing the Risk”, about how genomics is contributing to a better picture of Nova Scotia’s offshore petroleum deposits.
Genomics is helping to tackle another big offshore challenge – microbiologically-influenced corrosion (MIC), which costs the oil and gas industry tens of millions of dollars a year. Genome Atlantic joined international experts in St. John’s, NL recently for a workshop and research symposium dedicated to better understanding and managing MIC. Check out Memorial University’s story on the event and the $7.8 million research project managed by Genome Atlantic and Genome Alberta aimed at improving pipeline integrity. Click here for more information about the MIC research project.
Cannabis is an important emerging industry for Canada, and genomics plays an important role here too. Cultivars and breeders are using genomics to identify desired traits, accelerate breeding and unlock high-value opportunities for developing specialized strains. The Province of New Brunswick has identified cannabis as a major economic driver, and this spring, Genome Atlantic partnered with Opportunities New Brunswick and BioNB to host a panel discussion in Fredericton focused on maximizing cannabis opportunities along the entire value chain, including through genomics technologies.
In aquaculture, another important emerging industry for Atlantic Canada, genomics is driving growth by helping to boost breeding programs, reduce loss from disease and pests, and optimize feed formulas. Better feeds help keep farmed fish healthy, and Genome Atlantic spoke with two leading Ocean scientists at Memorial University who are working with researchers at Cargill Aqua Nutrition and UPEI to develop therapeutic feeds that optimize growth and disease resistance in farmed salmon.
Genomics is also bearing fruit for agricultural researchers like Dalhousie University’s Dr. Sean Myles. Myles wrote the book – literally – on grapevine breeding programs for the wine industry and was instrumental in leading the development of Canada’s National Apple Breeding Consortium. Check out our conversation with him about the role of genomics in value-added agricultural products, particularly here in Atlantic Canada.