October 3, 2018, Ontario, Canada – Putting genomics innovations in the hands of those who use them leads to increased competitiveness, economic growth and job creation.
Today, Ontario Genomics (OG), The Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) and Genome Canada (GC) announced the launch of the Ontario Regional Priorities Partnership program (ON-RP3) – a new, industry-pull funding program to support the application of genomics innovations aimed at advancing Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector.
Ontario’s diverse agriculture and agri-food sector is critically important. One in every eight jobs in Ontario currently comes from the agriculture and agri-food sector. At over $37B, it accounts for approximately one third of the total GDP generated by the sector in Ontario. While Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector is strong and growing, the demands and challenges the sector is faced with are also growing. In the context of enhancing a socially and environmentally responsible industry, genomics-based innovations and technologies provide significant opportunities to advance Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector.
ON-RP3 will provide a total of $2 million to support co-led industry-academic, proof-of-concept stage projects that will deliver genomics/genomics-derived tools, products or processes for industry-identified challenges and opportunities within Ontario’s Agriculture and Agri-food Sector.
Through ON-RP3, projects will apply genomic innovations to advance Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector and prepare them for industry implementation within two years or less of project completion. To ensure maximum impact, eligible research topics will be focused on the strategic priority areas identified in the sector strategy report, Genomics for Agriculture & Agri-Food: Ontario’s Strategic Opportunity
The ON-RP3 Request for Applications and Program guide and application forms can be found on the OG website and AAC website. Registrations are due to Ontario Genomics by 9 a.m. EST on November 12, 2018.
QUOTES
“Our agriculture and agri-food sector is critically important to Ontario’s economy and genomics technologies, tools and processes hold great promise to accelerate its success. By investing in industry-pull partnership programs, we are enabling the application of innovative genomics-based solutions that will strengthen this sector, create new jobs and drive economic growth for our province.”
– Dr. Bettina Hamelin, President & CEO, Ontario Genomics
“This priority partnership program will help provide Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector with the innovative tools, products and processes it needs to seize new opportunities and efficiently respond and adapt to challenges in our ever-changing and increasingly competitive marketplace.”
– Terry Thompson, Executive Director, Agricultural Adaptation Council
“We are thrilled to support Ontario’s focus on agriculture and agri-food as a key driver of the economy. This novel partnership program deepens the use of and benefits from genomics innovations by building a pathway from proof-of-concept through to application by Ontario’s agriculture industry.”
– Marc LePage, President and CEO, Genome Canada
Media
For further information, please contact us at info@ontariogenomics.ca and info@adaptcouncil.org
