Overview
Canada’s natural resources, and the vast genetic diversity that underpins them, are central to the country’s economic prosperity, environmental resilience and long-term competitiveness. Natural resources systems, including forestry, wild fisheries, mining and critical minerals, energy, freshwater systems and biodiversity-based sectors, are facing unprecedented pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss, accelerating global competition and economic volatility. At the same time, decision-makers across these sectors are being asked to act faster, manage greater uncertainty and deliver better outcomes with less margin for error.
We are in the midst of a bio-revolution, fuelled by rapid advances in genomic sequencing speed and scale, alongside artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that make it possible to analyze and train on vast volumes of genomic data. High-quality, standardized genomic and natural resources data enable earlier detection of ecological change and more adaptive, evidence-based management. Countries and industries that can integrate these capabilities into natural resources management and biodiversity protection will set the global standard, growing their economies while building environmental resilience for the long-term. They will also be best positioned to protect their populations and ecosystems from emerging biological threats, turning natural resources investments into sovereign and reliable national security assets.
This initiative will enable earlier detection of ecological change, more adaptive resource management and more effective regulatory and stewardship decisions. It will grow a coordinated, interoperable and responsibly governed natural resources genomics data ecosystem that supports next generation resource management and environmental protection while respecting and investing in First Nations, Inuit and Métis (hereafter referred to as Indigenous) data governance and sovereignty. And it will intentionally align targeted investments in research and data generation with infrastructure-building and governance to transform disparate datasets into trusted, accessible, interoperable, AI-ready large-scale assets that can be used by communities, regulators, researchers, industry and technology developers from coast-to-coast-to-coast in ways that respect data sovereignty and community authority.
For more information, please see the initiative overview.
STREAM 2 – NATIONAL GENOMICS DATA HUB
The initiative will establish a national genomics data hub in natural resources that provides standards and infrastructure needed for long-term impact. The hub will serve as a coordinating platform to support and steward data generated by the Stream 1 driver projects, enabling the development and use of a common, findable and usable national genomic data resource focused on genetic diversity across Canada’s natural resources systems. In practice, the hub will offer shared data and metadata standards, support coordination and interoperability with genomics and natural resources data initiatives and develop tools and workflows that can enable AI-readiness for datasets. It will also enable and be consistent with Indigenous data governance frameworks to facilitate the connection of Indigenous data infrastructures, where appropriate and on community-defined terms. Through training, templates and user support the hub will strengthen uptake and increase the long-term value and international alignment of publicly funded natural resources genomics data assets. The hub will not be responsible for storing or sharing data. A national databank will be implemented separately.
Funding Highlights
Total Funding Available: Up to $5,000,000
Genome Canada’s Contribution Range: Up to $5,000,000
Co-funding: 1:1 (Genome Canada: all co-funding sources)
Project Envelope: Up to $10,000,000
Target Timelines
Launch of Funding Opportunity: June 2, 2026
Letter of Interest (LOI) Due to Genome Alberta: Summer 2026 (exact date TBD)
Letter of Interest (LOI) Due to Genome Canada: Late Summer 2026 (exact date TBD)
Project Start Date: April 1, 2027
Objectives
By the conclusion of the project, the national genomics data hub in natural resources is expected to demonstrate the following:
- Consistent application of common metadata and governance frameworks for participating projects, with response for project-specific and community-defined variations.
- Measurable improvement in data interoperability and AI-readiness.
- A plan for the operational integration of Indigenous data governance and stewardship.
- A functioning trusted national discovery layer for natural resources genomics data.
- Early evidence of data reuse, cross-project synthesis or downstream uptake.
Project Eligibility
The project team must include relevant expertise in:
- Data coordination and standardization
- Analytics and data-use enablement
- Data governance and management
- Natural resources sciences
- Indigenous data governance
The project must agree to develop tools and resources to support data sharing and coordination with Stream 1 driver projects to deposit data to a national databank and integrate Stream 3 Indigenous data governance frameworks.
Genome Canada funding can be awarded to individuals affiliated with an Indigenous organization and/or government, or with an organization listed in Genome Canada’s Guidelines for Funding.
For more information, please see the initiative overview.
Application Process
The application process will consist of two stages: a Letter of Intent (LOI) followed by a full proposal.
Applicants will submit an LOI to indicate their interest in applying for Genome Canada funding under the natural resources initiative. The LOI will enable an eligibility check by Genome Canada to ensure the LOI meets the eligibility criteria of the funding stream. In the LOI, applicants will be required to briefly describe:
- Project overview
- Project leaders and their areas of expertise
- Budget and co-funding plan
Applicants who are deemed eligible will be invited to submit a full proposal. Additional information and requirements for the full proposal stage will be provided to invited applicants.
Documents & Resources
Funding Contact
Julie Greer, Sector Innovation Manager, Natural Resources
jgreer@genomealberta.ca