Genomics can both grow and green Canada’s economy

Climate change is often framed as a choice between economic growth and the environment, and when economic storms gather, we tend to fear the cost of change. But not all choices are binary. In fact, when it comes to climate change, solutions unleash economic opportunities. A perfect example lies in the promise of genomics. Most of us know that mapping the human genome has led to life-changing medical breakthroughs, such as the rapid development of mRNA vaccines. But there are also enormous opportunities to use genomics to revolutionize Canada’s most important economic sectors, including agriculture and food, resource extraction, and material manufacturing. With the right vision, strategy, and investment, we won’t have to choose between economic growth and the environment. We can achieve both. Recent research has found that 60 per cent of physical inputs to the global economy could in principle be produced biologically, with an economic value of US$2-trillion to $4-trillion between 2030 and 2040. This would mean a turn away from petroleum-based synthetic chemistry and towards biology-based processes in manufacturing. This shift would be economical, sustainable, and feasible. We have already learned to harness the power of naturally occurring micro-organisms, such as bacteria, yeast, and even micro-algae to manufacture many of the world’s physical materials. Bacteria is engineered to make proteins. Meat or fish cells are cultivated to make burgers, nuggets, or sushi. Sugar and cells can replace petroleum to manufacture nylon. And scientists are developing ways to use microbes to devour dangerous toxins and bacteria to consume methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. These kinds of innovations have been compellingly detailed in a new report by the Innovation Economy Council, Clean DNA: How Genomics Can Reduce Emissions and Drive Economic Growth for Canada, which crystallizes many of our potential gains. Bettina Hamelin is president and CEO of Ontario Genomics. Photograph courtesy of Ontario Genomics The biggest opportunity is cellular agriculture, which uses cell cultures, tissue engineering, and precision fermentation to complement and even replace food products and ingredients commonly produced through conventional agriculture. The IEC report cites Ontario Genomics research on the potential for a $7.5-billion yearly cellular agriculture industry in Canada, accounting for 18,000 to 86,000 jobs by 2030. In the longer term, the sector could bring in revenues of up to $12.5-billion annually and create 30,000 to 142,000 jobs. The global market for cell-based food products is expected to reach $100-billion in the next decade alone. There’s another opportunity in resource extraction. Canada is the world’s fourth-largest producer of oil and its fifth-largest producer of natural gas. But it’s also our largest single source of greenhouse-gas emissions, contributing to 27 per cent of Canada’s total, and genomics could help us meet our aggressive emissions targets. For example, the electrification, batteries, and solar panels required to meet our targets will require exponential growth in our $100-billion mining industry. Genomic technologies can help ensure Canada’s place as a leading source of the materials needed for a low-carbon economy. Canada has a number of high-potential researchers and companies working in or with genomics. The IEC report highlights Canadian-based leaders ranging from startup Cell Ag Tech, which grows fish stem cells to create seafood, to multinational retailer Lululemon, which recently partnered with an American company to create a plant-based nylon that will replace conventional synthetics for athletic wear. With a highly educated workforce, a strong academic base, innovative startups, and an emerging research infrastructure base, Canada has many key ingredients needed to make the most of these biotechnological developments. Yet many of this country’s companies struggle to scale up their innovations. For example, Pitchbook data shows that we have five per cent of all the world’s companies working on alternative protein food products, but we’ve attracted just 1.2 per cent of global investment. To change that narrative, Canada should zero in on the most promising genomics opportunities, which for now are in agriculture. We already have an extensive food and beverage industry, world-class expertise across the required disciplines, and free-trade agreements covering 60 per cent of global GDP. We need to develop a national vision and strategy for Canadian cellular agriculture. We need to establish a clear and transparent regulatory framework. We need to build out our infrastructure for research and training. And we need to steer supporting investment, public and private, toward this area. We have all the right ingredients for a successful industry but risk falling behind other jurisdictions that benefit from significant government and private sector investments. I call on the federal government to invest $100-million over five years, matched by industry funding. It’s not a large amount—compare it to the $2-billion investment into biomanufacturing that the U.S. government announced in September, or the Netherlands government’s pledge of $80-million toward a national consortium dedicated to cellular agriculture research and development. More importantly, these potential economic gains and emissions reductions do not happen in a vacuum. At the forefront of our ability to tackle not just climate change, but also food security and global health crises, genomics transforms how we address many of humanity’s greatest challenges. Bettina Hamelin is president and CEO of Ontario Genomics. The Hill Times