On December 8, 2016, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, announced the $110 million investment in the 2015 Large-Scale Applied Research Project Competition ‘Natural Resources and the Environment: Sector Challenges – Genomic Solutions.’ The 13 projects approved for funding use genomics to address the important challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s natural resources and environment sectors, to drive sustainability, growth, productivity, commercialization and global competitiveness. The scope of this funding includes areas such as genomics research related to energy, mining, forestry, water stewardship, wildlife management/conservation and bioproducts that help conserve natural resources and protect the environment. It also includes the use of genomics to identify key elements that impact ecosystem structure, function and diversity.
Three Ontario research projects, funded through Ontario Genomics with one Genome British Columbia co-lead, were approved for LSARP 2015 funding:
- SYNBIOMICS: Functional genomics and techno-economic models for advanced biopolymer synthesis
- Mine Wastewater Solutions: Next Generation Biological Treatment through Functional Genomics
- BEARWATCH: Monitoring Impacts of Arctic Climate Change using Polar Bears, Genomics and Traditional Ecological Knowledge
