Salmon farmers partner with Genome Canada
Genome Canada recently announced that the organization is contributing approximately CAD$15 million (~€10.4 million) for 12 projects under its Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP), two of which will be focused on aquaculture. According to the Genome Canada web site, “GAPP is designed to move genomics-based solutions to the marketplace through academic partnerships with industry and other "users" of genomics. It is also intended to stimulate investment from private and public partners to fund projects that address real world challenges and opportunities in the field of genomics”. The 12 approved projects have a total budget of some CAD$56 million (~€38.8 million), with the balance of funds being provided by co-funding partners including the genomics end-user
The two projects related to aquaculture are:
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SALMON and CHIPS - Commercial Application of Genomics to Maximize Genetic Improvement of Farmed Atlantic Salmon
Project Leaders: Elizabeth G. Boulding, University of Guelph; Keng Pee Ang, Cooke Aquaculture Inc. and Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.
Lead Genome Centres: Genome Atlantic and Ontario Genomics Institute
Aquaculture companies are increasingly incorporating genomics technology into their breeding programs to develop desirable stock traits for improved growth and disease resistance.
To retain its ability to compete internationally, Cooke Aquaculture/Kelly Cove Salmon will partner with Dr. Elizabeth Boulding and her academic group from the University of Guelph to
incorporate genomics marker technology into Kelly Cove Salmon’s current breeding program. This will allow the company to improve the effectiveness of its breeding program and increase the resistance of its salmon to diseases and parasites.
The company aims to implement an advanced genomics technology known as SNP-chips, which when blended with conventional animal breeding techniques, can yield significant increases in the survival rates of eggs and juvenile stages, as well as improved saltwater performance.
The implementation of this genomics technology is expected to increase the quality and sales of Kelly Cove’s salmon, and improve profitability by reducing expenditures on vaccines and medication. Strengthening Kelly Cove Salmon and its parent company, Cooke Aquaculture, will be good news for the more than 1,700 current employees in Atlantic Canada, and will lead to increased employment in rural and coastal communities.
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Better Feed for Better Fish: Biomarker Platform for Commercial Aquaculture Feed Development
Project Leaders: Matthew Rise, Memorial University; Richard Taylor, EWOS Innovation
Lead Genome Centre: Genome Atlantic
The health of farmed salmon in Canada is threatened by infectious diseases including those caused by pathogenic viruses and bacteria. The quality of feed can affect salmon health, but currently there is no way to measure how effective it is apart from growth rates – if fish grow bigger, faster, then presumably the feed is effective.
This project seeks to develop tools to better assess salmon health from their genes. Scientists at Memorial University and EWOS Innovation will jointly develop a platform to quantify the expression of multiple genes related to health and performance, using a single biological sample. This will allow EWOS, one of the world’s largest producers of aquafeeds, to develop novel, high-quality feeds, thus increasing its market share and profitability. New feeds will be commercialized within the life of the project and continue for three to five years following the project’s completion. Some of these feeds will focus on growth, while others – clinical feeds – will focus on combating the infections that are currently reducing salmon numbers.
The research will strengthen salmon aquaculture in Canada, in particular by reducing disease among farmed salmon. In addition, some project results will be shared as intellectual property, supporting growth in the sector. Finally, a focus on the use of Canadian raw materials in developing the feeds will also strengthen the feed supply industry.
