Genome BC Invests $1 Million in KPU’s Agri-Tech Research Initiative

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) has secured a significant funding boost of $1 million from Genome British Columbia, aimed at enhancing research within the province’s agriculture sector. The announcement, made on October 3, 2023, at KPU’s Newton campus, supports the Applied Genomics Centre’s efforts to advance its innovative initiatives.

The Applied Genomics Centre, which opened its lab in 2019, saw a major expansion in May 2023 and has been rebranded as the Applied Genomics Centre supported by Genome BC. This partnership is a continuation of Genome BC’s long-standing commitment to bolster scientific capacity in British Columbia.

Tony Brooks, Chief Financial Officer and Vice-President of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization at Genome BC, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “For 25 years, Genome BC has helped British Columbia build critical scientific capacity and scale solutions that address challenges and power economic growth. This support of KPU’s Applied Genomics Centre continues that commitment and strengthens a long-standing partnership with KPU.”

The funding is expected to directly benefit over 60 industry, First Nations, and community partners across British Columbia. KPU highlighted that as food security faces growing challenges from factors such as climate change and trade disruptions, the Applied Genomics Centre is positioned to equip the agriculture sector with essential genomic and metabolomic tools necessary for resilience and growth.

In 2023, some of the centre’s research initiatives have focused on developing heat-resistant crops and cattle, as well as creating a new variety of hops for the brewing industry.

Dr. Paul Adams, a researcher at the Applied Genomics Centre, expressed the significance of the funding, stating, “Genome BC is a provincial leader in genomics, and this is a very significant partnership that helps us increase our impact in B.C. This additional support allows us to work with more industry partners, ensuring they get access to genomics to improve their products and processes through innovation.”

The investment will facilitate additional applied research projects for KPU faculty and enhance hands-on training opportunities for students through the centre. Dr. Brett Favaro, Dean of the Faculty of Science at KPU, remarked on the transformative potential of the funding: “This funding will allow both of us to take our work to the next level.”

This collaboration not only highlights the commitment to advancing agricultural research in British Columbia but also reflects a broader trend of integrating genomics into practical applications, ensuring that local industries are well-prepared to meet future challenges.