NEWS RELEASE – May 9, 2025
Environmental DNA and RNA (generally referred to as eDNA below), the genetic material organisms leave behind in their environment—including in water, soil and air—is a game-changer for the health of our communities and the environment, enabling rapid and cost-effective monitoring for pathogens, antibiotic resistance and biodiversity.
Genome Atlantic is delivering $1.38M to three innovative projects announced today by Genome Canada as part of its eDNA Surveillance Initiative. Each of these projects will provide smarter environmental protection while helping industries operate more sustainably:
- A $380,000 collaboration with Atlantic First Nations Water Authority (the first Indigenous-owned and operated water utility in Canada) and Dalhousie University aims to help First-Nations identify and advance community priorities at the intersection of water stewardship and health. READ MORE
- The $200,000 Port Baseline Biodiversity Project, in partnership with New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island, will use environmental DNA to provide vital baseline biodiversity information to help ports with ongoing environmental monitoring. READ MORE
- An $800,000 MSX/Dermo oyster surveillance project involving scientists, government and industry partners throughout Atlantic Canada aims to develop a tool to help the shellfish industry, provincial governments and regulators predict the potential impact of MSX and Dermo parasites and provide early warning of their spread. READ MORE
The twelve projects in total announced under the new Genome Canada initiative will build Canada’s eDNA surveillance capacity across regions, enabling more effective monitoring and decision-making to tackle major threats to our health, environment and industries.
eDNA surveillance provides a non-invasive method to assess the health of a particular ecosystem or community. It provides the data needed for fast, evidence-based public policy and decision-making, helping us monitor for biodiversity loss, track disease-causing pathogens and antimicrobial resistance, and supporting forensic scientific investigation.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians saw these surveillance tools in action, monitoring wastewater for levels of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in communities. Genome Canada is investing in these new projects to build capacity for future pandemic preparedness, ongoing public health monitoring and stronger environmental protection for our country,” says Rob Annan, President and CEO, Genome Canada.“This program will also deliver targeted capacity-building for northern, rural, remote and Indigenous communities seeking to use eDNA surveillance tools for source and waste-water monitoring, and for environmental monitoring,” says Annan.
The eDNA Surveillance program projects will drive:
- Uptake of eDNA surveillance across Canada.
- Partnership-based projects with Indigenous communities to help ensure eDNA advances community needs.
- New mechanisms for collaboration to strengthen data standards, best practices and alignment across Canadian and international stakeholders, increasing the benefits of scientific innovation for us all.
The total value of this announcement is $11.3M, including $4.3M in Government of Canada funding (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada through the Strategic Science Fund) through Genome Canada and $7M in co-funding.
Explore all 12 projects funded under Genome Canada’s eDNA Surveillance Program
Media contact:
Charmaine Gaudet
Director of External Relations
902-488-7837 (Cell) / [email protected]
