$93 million being invested into Canadian ag-related research

Jul 22, 2015

Investment will also help create jobs

As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the need for food and the need to understand issues including climate changes.

Understanding the ways plants, livestock, fish and other species interact with one another has been largely left a mystery.

Various organizations including the Canadian government are investing $93 million into 11 genomics (DNA sequencing methods) projects.

The projects are funded under Genome Canada’s 2014 Large-Scale Applied Research Project Competition: Genomics and Feeding the Future.

"Our government is committed to moving ideas from the lab to the marketplace more quickly, strengthening Canada's economy while creating jobs for Canadians,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “Today's investment will harness Canada's strength in genomics research to provide a boost to our agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture industries in Saskatchewan and across Canada in order to compete and win in the global marketplace.”

Some of the projects include the University of Saskatchewan receiving $15.5 million to help other research teams develop vaccines against infectious diseases affecting cattle and develop lentil varieties that can succeed in Canadian growing conditions.

"The outstanding success of our researchers in this competition builds on our signature area of agriculture and demonstrates that the U of S is building significant capacity in areas where national and global food security solutions are required,” said Dr. Karen Chad, Vice-President of Research, University of Saskatchewan. “This new knowledge is critical to help address the projected doubling of world food demand by 2050.”

Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sectors make up more than 8% of Canada’s GDP and employed 2.1 million people as of 2011.

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.