Genome, Canada's Position Papers

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By Tonya Costoff

Genome, Canada's Position Papers - A look at what position papers were selected by Genome Canada in the fall of 2007 as well as what’s on tap for this year.

Last year Genome Canada launched an innovative new initiative, asking the scientific community to join with stakeholders to identify Strategic Research Themes through an initial submission of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and the writing of position papers. In total 57 EOIs were received and assigned to themes. The involved communities then selected theme leaders who agreed to manage the process leading to the submission of completed position papers in July 2007. The papers were then subject to an international peer review. After all of these, two position papers were recommended to the Board of Genome Canada for inclusion in Genome Canada’s strategic research portfolio and budget submission to Industry Canada for 2007-2008.

The two position papers recommended to be carried forward were in the theme areas of Agriculture – Plants, “Crop Genomics for a Healthy Canada” and Bioproducts, “Securing Canada’s Future Bio-Based Economy through Genomics”.

The Board of Genome Canada agreed that a second round of this process should be initiated with the objective of defining the research themes to be included in its budget submission for 2008-2009.

July 4, 2008, marked the date for the deadline for submission of position papers. The international review panel meeting will take place in early September, with the board of director’s decisions being made on Sept. 18, 2008.

As mentioned above, two position papers were recommended to be carried forward. In the theme area of Agriculture – Plants, “Crop Genomics for a Healthy Canada” was chosen. The paper was prepared by the Plant-Agriculture Genomics Group, with the theme leader being Wilf Keller – NRC/PBI. The writing team consisted of Michael Raine, Isobel Parkin, Raju Datla and Faouzi Bekkaoui. The lead centre is Genome Prairie.

The following are some of the key highlights taken from the introduction of the position paper, found on the Genome Canada website:

“Despite the improvements to plant breeding, agronomy and land reform the world still fails to properly feed 800 million people each day, leaving them chronically undernourished. More than six million children will die this year from the effects of poor nutrition. Although international efforts are underway to put an end to malnutrition, this goal will not be achieved without contributions from countries such as Canada, who have access to extensive arable land and the ability to apply the latest technologies to crop improvement.”

“Plant genomics researchers working with genomics tools are linking genes to traits, taking plant breeding from an art to a science. Genomics is bringing predictability to plant breeding, speeding discovery and improving returns for those investing in the research. Many fundamental elements of plant physiology have eluded man until now. Genomics is helping plant researchers link plant growth, reproduction, development, photosynthesis and abiotic and biotic stress responses to a complete molecular genetic picture of targeted traits. Yield is one of those important/key traits.”

“Scientists are looking at oilseed, cereals, fruit and vegetable crops to deliver safer, more stable foods. They also see these and other new emerging alternate crops as bio-factories, able to deliver nutraceuticals and pharmacologically active compounds that will improve human health through prevention and treatment, serving an aging Canadian population and its diverse health needs. Canada’s Science and Technology Framework demands of Canadian research that it delivers innovation. This theme’s research is linking discovery with plant breeding and new crop varieties with farmers, processors and exporters while reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint. The Crop Genomics for a Healthy Canada theme builds wealth, enhances existing research capacity, improves Canada’s place on the international stage, while putting Canadian’s health and security first.”

The second position paper moving forward focuses on the theme of Bioproducts and is titled “Securing Canada’s Future Bio-Based Economy through Genomics”.

The paper was prepared by the “Biofuels and Bioproducts Genomics” working group. Those in the working group were: Adrian Tsang, Champion, Concordia University; Carl Douglas, co-Champion, University of British Columbia; Bill Mohn, co- Champion, University of British Columbia; Stephen Bocking, Trent University; Edna Einsiedel, University of Calgary; Peter Facchini, University of Calgary; André Larouche, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge; Shawn Mansfield, University of British Columbia; Jonathan Page, NRC-Plant Biotechnology Institute; Sharon Regan, Queen’s University; Jas Singh, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa; Mark Smith, NRC-Plant Biotechnology Institute and Randall Weselake, University of Alberta. The consultants were (Goodfellow Agricola Consultants Inc): Randal Goodfellow and George Brook.

The introduction of the position paper, also found on the Genome Canada website, is as follows:
“The magnitude of the opportunity represented by the bioproducts sector cannot be overstated. It can be said with certainty that the Canadian (and global) economy has begun an inevitable shift towards a bio-base. As the increase in demand for energy continues to accelerate, we are seeing mounting pressure to switch production from the petroleum-based materials, chemicals and fuels that underpin our economy to a more sustainable basis, with renewable resources as the foundation. Add to this the promise of a reduced carbon footprint that the bioproducts sector offers, and the need for significant action to stimulate Canada’s emerging bioproducts sector is clear.

A broad definition of the term “bioproducts” has been adopted in developing this Position Paper. Bioproducts are commercial or industrial products that are composed in whole or in significant part of biological, renewable materials derived from plants, animals, or microorganisms. Bioproducts include chemicals, materials, fuels, and energy, but exclude food, feed, timber, and conventional wood products.

Examples of bioproducts include biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, electricity from biomass, bioplastics, natural fibre composites, as well as biologically-derived paints, lubricating oils and fine chemicals. Similarly, the term “genomics” as used in this paper includes a broad group of related sciences, including proteomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, and systems biology.

The field of bioproducts is fundamentally about harnessing the output of living systems to create the energy, chemicals and materials that sustain modern society. The field of genomics concerns the understanding of these living systems at the most fundamental level. Clearly, the field of genomics will shape and drive the development of the bioproducts sector in profound ways. This Position Paper makes the case for adopting the strategic research theme “Securing Canada’s Future Bio-based Economy through Genomics” as a major focus for Genome Canada in the immediate future.”

At press time, the Genome Canada website had seven Strategic Research Themes identified for further development in the current cycle. The themes were: Agriculture – Animals; Child Healthy Genomics; GE3LS (Genomics and Ethics, Environment, Economics, the Law and Society); Infection, Inflammation and Immunity; Personalized Health Genomics; Protein Interaction Networks and Ecosystem Health and Wealth.

The website’s goal is to “serve as the vehicle for the dissemination of information”. Expressions of Interest are posted to the site to enable interested individuals to view them and post a comment.

For more information on the papers chosen for 2007 or the process for 2008, visit http://positionpapers.genomecanada.ca/en/default.php.