The University of Guelph in collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has received a $320,000 investment to protect Canada’s food supply against invasive pests and diseases.
This funding will be used directly with scientists from U of G’s Biodiversity Institute of Ontario and the CFIA to create DNA barcoding tools, genomics, and bioinformatics to identify viruses and pests in plants, soil, and livestock.
The announcement was made on Thursday, Sept. 14 by Guelph member of parliament, Lloyd Longfield.
“With our Biodiversity Institute, world class work is going to be done to achieve a healthy, safe, and sustainable food supply world-wide,” Longfield said in an interview with The Ontarion.
“With this long-term investment, we will see a growing amount of new technology being created to tackle new ways to control pests in an efficient, sustainable manner,” Longfield explained.
This new funding also builds on a previous $323,000 federal investment announced in 2016, which has supported multiple research and training projects using exceptional research tools for food scientists at the University.
In a press release from the University, Malcolm Campbell, U of G’s vice-president (research), said: “Our partnership with the CFIA will leverage our expertise in genomics to further Canada’s reputation as a producer and provider of safe, healthy, nutritious, sustainable food. We look forward to the exciting outcomes of this world-class scientific collaboration.”
One of the main highlights of this research project includes using DNA technology to rapidly test soil samples and various invasive plants, along with producing new methods to improve the monitoring of insect pest outbreaks and invasive species.
This announcement for funding has provided new opportunities for the U of G research community, the Biodiversity Institute, and the CFIA to create measures that control pests and protect Canada’s food supply.
Photo by Mirali Almaula/The Ontarion.