Research projects on cattle and swine genomics, led or co-led by Albertan or Canadian researchers, can now compete for a new round of Alberta provincial funding.
Calgary-based Genome Alberta on Friday launched a competition for bovine and swine genomics research projects to “contribute to the success and growth of Alberta’s highly competitive livestock and meat industry.”
The competition is open to researchers at provincial, national or international research institutions and those in private industry. Projects, however, “must be led or co-led by an Alberta or Canadian investigator,” Genome Alberta said.
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Letters of intent are now being accepted and can be submitted until May 17, Genome Alberta said, and it will fund successful applicants for up to $500,000 per project.
The competition is backed by $4.8 million from Alberta’s provincial Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA) for livestock genetics research “to help improve the health, reputation, and quality of Alberta livestock.”
According to Genome Alberta’s chief scientific officer Dr. Gijs van Rooijen, successful projects “will benefit Alberta and Canadian livestock producers and the value-added meat sectors.”
Given the province’s 5.5 million head of cattle, yielding over $3 billion dollars in farm cash receipts, “there is little doubt that an investment in bovine genetics is an important investment with the potential for a significant impact on Alberta’s herd quality,” Genome Alberta said in its release Friday.
“Just as important is the potential impact of stronger genetics on Alberta’s 2.3 million hogs raised every year.”
The Alberta Livestock Genomics Program guidelines and letter of intent template can be found online.
Genomics is the study of how genes interact with each other and their environment to make living organisms do what they do. Genome Alberta, backed by Genome Canada, the federal industry ministry and the Alberta government, was set up in 2005 as a life sciences agency to prioritize, co-ordinate and enable “world-class genomics research and partnerships” of benefit to the province.
