Latest news with #Pan-CanadianArtificialIntelligenceStrategy
Business Upturn
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Protein Industries Canada Launches $15 Million in Genomics and AI Programs to Strengthen Canada's Agrifood Sector
Regina, SK, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Protein Industries Canada announced an additional $15 million in funding provided by the Government of Canada. Focused on two key streams—Genomics and Artificial Intelligence—this new investment will help strengthen Canada's agriculture sector and domestic food supply chain by bringing new tools to plant-breeders, farmers, ingredient processors and food manufacturers. By advancing genomics and AI technologies, these programs will enable farmers and companies across Canada's agrifood sector to build a more resilient, efficient and sustainable food system. This full value-chain approach will expand the range of Canadian-made ingredient options while also creating new economic opportunities—bringing the country closer to realizing its $25 billion agrifood growth potential. 'Investing in genomics and artificial intelligence is investing in our future, helping build a more prosperous and competitive Canada,' said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. 'Administered by the Protein Industries Cluster, this new funding will support innovative solutions that will contribute to a more resilient, productive and sustainable agri-food sector.' Through the new five-year Genomics Stream, Protein Industries Canada will invest $7 million into the commercialization of new and improved broad-acre crop varieties, with a focus on pulse and cereal crops. Projects under the stream will apply genomic tools in plant breeding and variety development to meet industry demand, aligning innovation across the value-chain, from growers to ingredient manufacturers. The additional $8 million into artificial intelligence programming will boost Protein Industries Canada's current investment under the Government of Canada's Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Projects that will be considered may involve: the development of tools that accelerate seed genetic work; supply chain optimization; on-farm information gathering; quality assurance and food safety protocols; and ingredient and food formulation. 'This new investment will deliver value across the entire supply chain, starting with enhanced genetics that improve crop functionality and provide farmers with more resilient, high-performing options,' CEO of Protein Industries Canada Robert Hunter said. 'At the same time, our investment into artificial intelligence will support the development of tools that boost on-farm productivity and sustainability. Together, these advancements—combined with our full value-chain approach—will strengthen Canada's position as a global supplier of nutritious, functional plant-based food, feed and ingredients, while contributing to our goal of building a $25 billion industry for Canada.' Companies interested in applying to either program stream are asked to visit Protein Industries Canada's website. Consortiums who may be eligible for the Genomics program can find more information at while companies interested in the AI program should visit Both the Genomics and Artificial Intelligence Streams are open on a continual intake basis. Interested companies are asked to fill out the forms at the bottom of each the Technology and Artificial Intelligence pages. If a project meets initial eligibility requirements, Protein Industries Canada's Project team will reach out to schedule a preliminary meeting. This first meeting must be held prior to an EOI being submitted. EOIs will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, allowing successful submissions to move to the next step in the process in a timely manner. Protein Industries Canada is one of Canada's five Global Innovation Clusters. Protein Industries Canada and its members are working to embrace the $25 billion opportunity presented by Canada's plant-based ingredient manufacturing, food processing and feed sectors. Through investments into innovative projects, Protein Industries Canada is adding value to, and creating new markets for, Canadian crops, generating local jobs and supporting new economic development in locations across Canada. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
CBC
14-02-2025
- Science
- CBC
Feb 15: How AI is transforming science, and more...
A recently discovered archaeological site in Saskatchewan, dated to just less than 11,000 years ago is the oldest settlement in the region by about 1,500 years. It also is evidence that Indigenous people settled there as soon as the environment could support them after the glaciers disappeared. Glenn Stuart, from the University of Saskatchewan, is one of the archaeologists working along with local Indigenous community members to preserve and study the site. Researchers investigating how sea turtles navigate the vast and trackless ocean have discovered just how sensitive the reptiles' magnetic sense is, as they can even use it to identify the location of food resources. While feeding the loggerhead turtles in the lab, Kayla Goforth, a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University noticed that the turtles would perform a 'happy dance' when they recognized the right magnetic signature. She led this research that was published in the journal Nature. WATCH: Turtles Dancing Scientists were surprised to discover that the more intensely you exercise, the more certain immune cells belch out fragments of DNA that can form webs to trap pathogens, and lead to fewer pro-inflammatory immune cells circulating in our blood. Canadian researcher Stephen Montgomery, a professor of pathology at Stanford University, said their findings suggest that circulating cell-free DNA may play a role in how exercise lowers inflammation in the body. The study was published in the journal PNAS. Birds are the last surviving lineage of dinosaurs, but modern birds are surprisingly ancient – dating to before the extinction of the rest of their family. An extremely rare, nearly intact bird skull found in Antarctica and dated to about 69 million years ago confirms this. This waterfowl had similarities to ducks and loons. Chris Torres is an assistant professor at the University of the Pacific in Stockton California and was part of the team that analyzed this fossil. Their research was published in the journal Nature. The stunning advances in artificial intelligence that we see with internet AI apps are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to science. Researchers from almost every field are experimenting with this powerful new tool to diagnose disease, understand climate change, develop strategies for conservation and discover new kinds of materials. And AI is on the threshold of being able to make discoveries all by itself. Will it put scientists out of a job? Producer Amanda Buckiewicz spoke with: Jeff Clune, a professor of computer science at the University of British Columbia, a Canada CIFAR AI Chair at the Vector Institute, and a senior research advisor to DeepMind. He's also a co-author of The AI Scientist. Allison Noble, a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Oxford and a Foreign Secretary at the Royal Society, and chair of the Science in the Age of AI working group. Elissa Strome, executive director of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy at CIFAR. Cong Lu, postdoctoral research and teaching fellow at the University of British Columbia and the Vector Institute, and a co-author of The AI Scientist. Fred Morstatter, a research assistant professor at the University of Southern California, and a principal scientist at USC's Information Sciences Institute.
