Update May 20, 2022
Registration for the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems ICT funding opportunity is now open and downloadable documents are available below. A Registration template has been provided to guide applicants in preparing the information required at the registration stage; however, this document will not be submitted as applicants are required to input their registration information directly into an online submission portal. Applicants should reach out to Ryan Mercer to initiate the process and gain access to the online portal. Genome Alberta will provide detailed instructions for completing the online Registration.

The Genome Canada Appendix 1 will be uploaded as a completed Excel file by Genome Alberta.

The Activity Form is intended to assist your genome centre in supporting your proposal development and should be sent directly to Genome Alberta. 

 

 

Genome Alberta is excited to partner with Genome Canada in announcing the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative which will invest $30 million in cutting-edge genomic research and innovation to reduce the carbon footprint of Canada’s agriculture and food systems. This initiative will fund a portfolio of Interdisciplinary Challenge Teams (ICT) leading genomics research and innovation projects ($24 million investment, launching immediately) connected by two separate cross-cutting programs designed to ensure they translate into solutions for Canadians, coming later this spring:

 

 

1. Coordination of the data generated by funded projects ($4 million investment)

2. Knowledge mobilization (developing the products, processes and relationships needed to ensure insights generated by funded projects are shared and beneficial to other projects and end-users) and implementation of solutions generated by the projects ($2 million investment)

Climate change poses serious risk to agricultural systems and the availability of food and other vital resources—from fuels to the raw materials used to develop everyday products. Canada is committed to ambitious action to advance climate change mitigation and adaptation. New technologies, products and approaches are required to reduce emissions, maintain productivity and competitiveness, and ensure food security within the home and across the value-chain. This has led Genome Canada to invest in a challenge-driven portfolio of interdisciplinary research and innovation projects through connecting their efforts with cross-cutting programs for knowledge mobilization, data coordination, and implementation. This portfolio approach allows benefits from one solution to translate into other food systems/supply chains and cascade impact throughout the broader food system, ultimately strengthening the resiliency, sustainability, and economic viability of food production in Canada.

Potential impacts
•Net-zero carbon agriculture and food systems
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprints of food production and inputs manufacturing.

 

•Biological carbon sequestration
Enhancing carbon sequestration to improve performance, mitigate climate impacts and support healthy ecosystems.

 

•Resilient and sustainable food systems
Building resilient, sustainable food systems that reduce environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions.

 

•Scalable biology-based solutions
Resulting in novel, nature-based solutions and processes that can replace traditional consumptive production processes with sustainable and circular solutions for the environment and economy.

For more information, please contact Ryan Mercer, Manager of Program and Business Development at Genome Alberta. A recording from the information session on May 18, 2022 is available here.

The following documentation is available for download:

 

Climate Action Genomics Initiative: Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems Overview ​and Funding Opportunity 

ICT Registration Form and Activity Sheet​

ICT Suggested Reviewers

 

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