Given the global situation around COVID-19 and actions being taken by the Canadian, Quebec and Ontario governments, the Canada SynBio Organizing Committee had to make the difficult decision to postpone the upcoming Canada SynBio 2020 conference, originally scheduled for June 3 in Montreal. We are currently working to find a new date and will share the details as soon as they are confirmed.

As Canada SynBio 2020 was part of a larger “SynBio Week” series of events, please see below for their status:

• June 1-2: The Global BioFoundries Alliance (GBA) has cancelled their AGM.
• June 4: SynBio 5.0 has been cancelled.

We appreciate your understanding and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. During these difficult times, the health and wellbeing of the attendees, speakers, staff and general public remains our top priority.

You can follow us on Twitter for updates and check out www.candesyne.ca for upcoming news on our exciting engineering biology initiative.

Given the global response to the COVID-19 health emergency and specific actions being taken by the Canadian, Ontario and Toronto governments, Ontario Genomics is taking the following proactive measures to reduce the potential spread of the virus, prioritizing the health and safety of our staff and the broader community:

• All Ontario Genomics staff are working from home until April 3*
• All in-person workshops and meetings currently scheduled are moving online or have been postponed until further notice. If you have a meeting or event scheduled, we will coordinate with you to develop an alternative arrangement.
• We are no longer taking face-to-face meetings at our office and will instead be setting up virtual meetings and teleconference calls, where appropriate.
• All business travel has been suspended.
• The Canada SynBio 2020 Organizing Committee has postponed the Canada SynBio 2020 conference originally planned for June 3, 2020, in Montreal. We are currently working to find a new date and will communicate the details with you as soon as we have this confirmed.

*All dates subject to change.

As the World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and the Government of Ontario has declared a provincial emergency, we are closely monitoring the situation and adjusting our business operations based on the recommendations of Public Health Officials.

For further information on COVID-19, please refer to the following reliable sources:

• Health Canada: COVID-19 information with Canada-wide updates and travel advice.
• Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: Up-to-date information on COVID-19, including the status of cases in Ontario (updated seven days a week, at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET.) This page also has a COVID-19 self-assessment tool.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

December 5, 2019, Toronto, Ontario –The Ontario Regional Priorities Partnership Program (ON-RP3) is supporting Ontario-focused, industry-academic partnership projects that will positively impact Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector.

Today, at the Genomics at the Tipping Point Symposium, Bettina Hamelin, President and CEO of Ontario Genomics, announced the eight successful ON-RP3 project teams. Two of the successful teams, Semex Alliance (University of Guelph) and NutriAg Ltd. (Trent University) were present at this one-day symposium showcasing Ontario’s growing genomics talent and technologies across key sectors, including the agriculture and agri-food sector.

The funding is supporting proof-of-concept stage projects that will deliver genomics/genomics-derived technologies, tools and processes to provide solutions to industry-identified challenges or opportunities within the sector. ON-RP3 will help industry take applied research to the implementation and commercialization stages. These solutions will be implemented by 2024.

In total, eight projects are being funded across Ontario through a $2M investment by the Agricultural Adaptation Council and Ontario Genomics (through Genome Canada). This investment is leveraging $975,000 in industry contributions, for a total of over $2.95 M to drive genomics-derived technologies, tools and processes to create more jobs and grow the Ontario economy.

This investment into agriculture and agri-food genomics research, coupled with industry’s ongoing commitment to technology development and commercialization, is playing an increasingly important part in a changing Ontario economy. This funding will capitalize on Ontario’s broad agricultural production, its cutting-edge innovation and manufacturing capacity, its globally recognized research expertise, and on its diverse and highly skilled workforce.

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Quotes

“Agri-food companies and organizations from across Ontario have identified challenges and partnered with academic research teams to help advance genomics research and drive implementation for genomics-based solutions. The Ontario agri-food sector is well positioned for growth and these successful industry-academic partnerships will help create new opportunities that will benefit the entire sector.”
– Kelly Duffy, Chair, Agricultural Adaptation Council

“Genomics technology and innovation are absolutely crucial for the continued growth of Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food sector. By bringing industry and researchers together, these eight projects will create more jobs, keep Ontario competitive and provide amazing growth opportunities for Ontario’s farmers and our rural economy. Ontario Genomics is proud that this investment brings our total support of this sector to over $73 M and maintains our commitment to investing in promising research and industry solutions across the province.”
– Bettina Hamelin, President and CEO, Ontario Genomics  

“The Regional Priorities Partnership Program (RP3) is unique in that it directly supports the regional Genome Centres in developing initiatives that advance genomics research and translation in areas of strategic priority in different parts of Canada. This means that in addition to this funding being important to the genomics ecosystem as a whole, every dollar invested in these eight projects will work to grow Ontario’s economy and improve the lives of Ontarians.”  
– Marc LePage, President and CEO, Genome Canada

“As Canada’s food university, the University of Guelph is absolutely delighted by this phenomenal support from Ontario Genomics and the Agricultural Adaptation Council for seven University of Guelph collaborative projects. This support will reinforce University of Guelph\’s tremendous agri-food sector partnerships to generate discoveries and innovations that will improve life in this province and well beyond. Our world-class genomics researchers are turning ideas into solutions to feed people in healthy, safe, and sustainable ways.”
– Malcolm M. Campbell, Professor & Vice-President Research, University of Guelph

“Trent University is excited and honoured to be one of the eight successful projects selected for the ON-RP3 program for agriculture and agri-food innovations in Ontario. We are grateful to the AAC and Ontario Genomics for backing our partnership that will leverage our laboratory’s plant chemistry academic research with the cropping industry’s needs for greater yields.  The honing of our novel biofertilizer for Ontario agricultural conditions is a great example of advancing scientific discovery towards positive economic, social and environmental outcomes. At time when climate change threatens food production, food security and the livelihoods of those in the agricultural sector, cross-sector collaboration between academia, industry and government can make a significant difference in society.”
– Dr. Neil Emery, VP Research & Innovation, Trent University

“Semex has benefitted from ON-RP3 funding by providing the additional funding required to study and develop digital transformation tools in the dairy industry. The use of digital sensors will provide an array of 24×7 phenotypes that are closer to the underlying biology of animals. This will help us develop health and welfare traits with higher heritabilities and greater benefits for animals and dairy farms globally.”
– Michael Lohuis, PhD, Vice President, Research & Innovation, Semex Alliance

“With this project, we will be able to give our brewery partners access to genomic and metabolomic information they can use to know ahead of time how to work with every yeast strain, and the impact of different process variables like temperature on the flavour outcomes of their beer. This work may also lead to a better understanding of the complex genetics underlying yeast aroma production. This project will help Ontario businesses become leaders in the increasingly competitive craft brewing industry, driving enhanced creativity and improved consistency.”
– Richard Preiss, Co-founder/Co-Owner, Escarpment Laboratories

“Ferrero uses only the highest quality hazelnuts in our consumer products. We are pleased to collaborate with Ontario Genomics, Agricultural Adaptation Council, University of Guelph and the Gosling Institute for Plant Preservation as they work toward understanding and developing high quality hazelnut trees adapted to Ontario growing conditions. These activities are key and support Ferrero’s objective to source local hazelnuts wherever possible.”
– Barb Yates, Agronomist, Ferrero Canada

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Quick facts

• ON-RP3 was designed to align with the key strategic recommendations from Ontario Genomics’ sector strategy report, Genomics for Agriculture & Agri-Food: Ontario’s Strategic Opportunity, which was released in 2018.
• To read more about the eight ON-RP3 projects that were funded, visit our ON-RP3 page or  the AAC website.

Agricultural Adaptation Council
Laura Feil
Programs Lead & Communications Manager
lfeil@adaptcouncil.org
Ph. 519-829-8626 ext. 629

Ontario Genomics
Polina Martins
Director, Communications
pmartins@ontariogenomics.ca
Ph. 416-673-6589

Twitter: @adaptcouncil; @OntarioGenomics; @GenomeCanada

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Agricultural Adaptation Council is a not-for-profit organization with a membership of 67 Ontario agricultural, agri-food and rural organizations. Since 1995, AAC has established an outstanding level of customer service and program delivery that is efficient, flexible and accountable, focusing on the agriculture and agri-food industry.

Ontario Genomics is a not-for-profit organization leading the application of genomics-based solutions across key sectors of the economy to drive economic growth, improved quality of life and global leadership for Ontario. We connect scientists, ideas and partner organizations for collaborative investment opportunities for our vision of healthy lives, healthy economy and healthy planet through genomics innovations. Since inception in 2000, OG has leveraged $2.6B for genomics research and innovation for Ontario and directly supported more than 9,100 jobs.

Genome Canada is a not-for-profit organization that invests in genomic science and technology and its translation into applications across multiple sectors to produce social and economic benefits for all Canadians. Genome Canada acknowledges the continued support of the Government of Canada. For more information, please visit www.genomecanada.ca.

Ontario Genomics is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Deb Stark as the new Chair of the Board. Dr. Tom Corr has been appointed to be the Board’s Vice-Chair.

Dr. Deb Stark has served on the Board since 2017 and is the former Deputy Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), holding a wealth of experience in the agriculture and agri-food policy space. Dr. Tom Corr has served on the Board since 2018 and is the former President and CEO of Ontario Centres of Excellence, with more than 40 years of experience in the technology transfer, ITC, entrepreneurship, academic and venture capital sectors.

Ontario Genomics is also pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Alison Paprica and Colin Kelleher to its Board.

Dr. Alison Paprica is the Vice President of Health Strategy and Partnerships at the Vector Institute, where she leads the health strategy, overseeing research collaborations, data partnerships and AI application projects in the health sector. Colin Kelleher is a serial entrepreneur specializing in angel investing in early-stage tech companies. Colin also serves on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Centres of Excellence.

“At a time when genomics technologies in Ontario are truly at a tipping point, we welcome the impressive diversity and expertise of our Board of Directors. Together we can make sure that genomics-based solutions continue to grow Ontario’s economy and improve quality of life. I look forward to new opportunities to collaborate across sectors and industries to create jobs and generate more investment in Ontario,” said Dr. Bettina Hamelin, President and CEO of Ontario Genomics.

Ontario Genomics thanks Dr. Jack Gauldie for his leadership as interim Chair and looks forward to continuing to work with him in the capacity of Past Chair in the coming year. We also thank retiring Board members Jay Lefton and Dr. Shana Kelley for their invaluable service over the years and their many contributions to Ontario Genomics and the province’s genomics ecosystem.

For more information and detailed biographical notes, visit our Board of Directors page.

July 23, 2019 – In a recent announcement from Genome Canada, seven (7) Ontario-led and three (3) Ontario co-led projects were awarded a total of $16 million in funding from the Genome Canada Genomics and Applied Partnership Program (GAPP) and Large Scale Applied Research Program (LSARP).

Ontario Genomics is so proud to be working with these talented teams. These programs fund translational research and development projects that address real-world challenges and opportunities as identified by industry, government, not-for-profits, and other “receptors” of genomics knowledge and technology.

An additional $30 million is being invested by industry, the Ontario government and other partners, for a total of over $46 million. This funding will help Ontario’s leading researchers produce dramatic breakthroughs in agriculture and across the bioeconomy, which promises to have major impacts on key economic sectors while also improving Canadians’ health, environment and creating new jobs in Ontario.

Learn more about this announcement: Genome Canada News Release