When it comes to human health, genomics can be a game changer. Recent advances in our capability to inexpensively sequence the complete human genome and rapidly process and interpret this complex information are changing our understanding of health and disease. 

We are learning that differences in an individual’s genetic make-up, or in the specific genetic changes that led to a patient’s disease, are important to how that patient’s disease develops and responds to treatment. This information can be used to better design and customize effective treatments. 

These advances have led to personalized medicine – an approach to health care in which treatment is informed by a deep understanding of the genomic changes that contribute to each patient’s health and disease. 

Genomics has already made tangible improvements in health outcomes and treatment of patients affected by cancer, cardiac diseases, autism, and rare diseases, among other chronic and acute conditions. 

These avenues are just the tip of the iceberg of the many possibilities of genomics in health. At Ontario Genomics, we aim to understand both the challenges and opportunities in the health sector. We are also advancing a “One Health” approach, addressing the interconnectedness of people, animals, plants and their shared environment to strengthen Canadian and global health security.

Food security and safety, pests and climate change are just a few of the challenges facing agriculture in Ontario and around the world. As an agriculture and food industry leader in North America, Ontario is poised to address these important hurdles and opportunities in order to continue producing abundant nutritious food and healthy animals for its 14.5 million residents.

The agri-food sector is a major economic driver in Ontario, contributing over $47.3 billion a year to our economy. Ontario boasts a large and diverse agricultural sector, with rich lands supporting over 49,600 farms and producing over 200 agricultural commodities. 

The food and beverage processing sector is the largest in Canada, and one of North America’s most significant. Ontario has benefited immensely from research, investments, and innovation in the agricultural sector: improving food security, increasing crop yields, producing higher quality livestock, and supporting new products for emerging and growing markets. 

Advances in emerging genomics-based technologies offer novel tools and breakthrough solutions to our most significant food security challenges. Ontario Genomics enables the adoption and use of these technologies to help facilitate the development and commercialization of new products and improve production processes for food producers, manufacturers, and consumers, ensuring that Ontario remains ahead of the food security curve.

Genomics research in industrial biotechnology and environment is an emerging field, its applications and opportunities are being recognized as a source of tremendous potential growth, and a way to position the sector to tackle the growing environmental challenges of the world. 

Government and industry leaders are looking to the bioproducts sector to address the pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century, from the detrimental levels of greenhouse gas emissions accumulated through our current system of production and consumption, to the dwindling reserves of nonrenewable resources such as petroleum.

With the bio-products sector generating $4.3 billion in revenues and $1.4 billion in exports, Canada has already taken the first steps towards building an economic foundation in this burgeoning bio-based global market expected to grow to $868 billion by 2025. 

The development of a thriving bioproducts sector in Ontario will enable businesses and industries alike to become active players in this global push while simultaneously capturing economic growth.

At Ontario Genomics, we aim to understand both the challenges and opportunities in this sector. We are strengthening environmental sustainability across the spectrum and supporting Ontario’s bioproducts industries to innovate and transition away from harmful processes through a circular bioeconomy approach.