Northern and Arctic Canada face serious economic, environmental, health and social issues. As climate change is expected to challenge communities even further, harnessing innovation for effective and sustainable solutions becomes paramount.
The Government of Canada, in collaboration with Indigenous, territorial and provincial partners, has developed the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework with the vision to reach its eight goals by 2030. The Minister of Northern Affairs, Dan Vandal, travelled North in January 2020 in order to hear the needs of communities and seek partnerships for solutions. The good news is that genomics – an interdisciplinary field of biology focusing on the mapping and editing of an organism’s complete set of DNA – can help tackle many of the challenges.
Although health includes some of the most well known applications of genomics, agrifood, energy, mining, fisheries and forestry are also some of the sectors that have already and will be fundamentally transformed by this set of technologies.
Working in partnership with governments, researchers and industry, Genome BC has led genomics innovation on Canada’s West Coast through funding research and development in the field of genomics for the past 20 years. Based on our experience, below are some examples of how genomics can help with the challenges of northern and Arctic Canada as described in the Policy Framework’s goals:
Goal 1: Canadian Arctic and Northern Indigenous peoples are resilient and healthy
The levels of health and social development outcomes that most Canadians enjoy are far from current reality for most Arctic and Northern Indigenous peoples. Access to food and clean water, as well as access to health services tailored to them, are limited.
Personalized medicine – tailoring of medical treatment to each patient’s individual characteristics – is a recent breakthrough in health. However, Indigenous populations are understudied and therefore not able to benefit in full. The ‘Silent Genomes’ project focuses on reducing health care disparities and improving diagnostic success for Indigenous populations. In partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, and co-funded by Genome Canada and Genome BC, researchers are working to reduce the genomic divide, or the lack of background genetic data, for Indigenous populations living in Canada. This would allow for accurate diagnosis and will improve health outcomes by enhancing equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, and care.
Food production is another area where genomics can improve people’s lives and is a major health issue for northern communities. Genome-based technologies are offering new tools and the ability to increase production and detect and prevent diseases in agrifoods, including fisheries and aquaculture. Access to affordable and nutritious food would not only improve health, but many social outcomes as well.
Goal 2: Strengthened infrastructure that closes gaps with other regions of Canada
Access to affordable and reliable energy is a major issue in Canada’s North. In addition, sustainability is a major consideration as the effects of climate change become even more visible.
The use of genomics can be particularly helpful in providing affordable and clean energy solutions in order to achieve energy security and sustainability. For example, solar power is an abundant sustainable energy source and could provide an alternative for a secure mixture of energy sources to northern communities. How can genomics be involved? Research has examined genetic engineering for photosynthetic proteins for solar energy. Using bacterial photosynthetic proteins as light-harvesting material, researchers demonstrated proteins as inexpensive, efficient and environmentally sustainable components of solar cells. This way sunlight is directly converted to electricity, using green components and without CO2 emission, further assisting with lowering carbon emissions.
Similarly, other projects looked at methods for increasing the production and efficiency of biofuels. For example, some projects focused on improving poplar trees for minimized ecological footprint, while others on using algae for biofuels, therefore using non-arable land, or even marine cultivation sites, and non-potable water for fuel production.
Goal 3: Strong, sustainable, diversified and inclusive local and regional economies
It is also important for northern Canada to continue growing its existing economy in a sustainable manner. Resource development is expected to increase as climate change alters the northern environment. The natural resources sector, mining in particular, has already adopted some of the new opportunities.
Genomics has already been used for achieving greener production and extraction of hydrocarbon energy, developing innovative tools for the environmental assessment of metal contaminated sites, assessing impacts of mine tailings, improving passive mitigation of mine drainage, and monitoring ecosystem recovery.
Goal 4: Knowledge and understanding guides decision making
As northern environments change, we need to increase our understanding of climate change impacts and best practices for adaptation and resilience. This, of course, needs to be conducted in collaboration with Indigenous peoples and in support of local needs.
It is necessary to better understand Indigenous peoples’ needs, values, and skepticism regarding genomics, support local community led educational tools, and explore how genomic research can be aligned with Indigenous values. For example, one of our projects was in collaboration with the Heiltsuk Nation, on BC’s central coast, to develop First Nations community led genomics educational tools. A number of other projects have focused on bridging the gap between public perceptions and concerns, Indigenous perspectives and knowledge, and genomic science. An important aspect of funded projects is the incorporation of GE³LS, which stands for Genomics and its Ethical, Environmental, Economic, Legal and Social aspects.
Goal 5: Canadian Arctic and northern ecosystems are healthy and resilient
Climate change is already impacting Canada’s Arctic and northern communities. There is an urgent need to mitigate climate change, but also for communities and ecosystems to be able to adapt to its current and future impacts and build resilience. The use of genomics can enhance our understanding of the vulnerabilities of ecosystems and better monitor the effects of climate change. This understanding can inform, and be informed by, Indigenous conservation practices, allowing northern communities to not only be better informed, but increase their resilience in climate change.
Genomics can help in understanding biodiversity and how different species adapt to climate change. Understanding the organisms at the genomic level helps us understand the causes of marine biodiversity and respond to disease outbreaks and climate change in ecologically important areas. For example, some projects looked at adaptations of plants to climate change. Specifically, researchers are using sites across the Arctic to determine the mechanisms and speed of plant adaptation to warmer temperatures. Their knowledge can contribute to the sustainability of native species, conservation management, and overall adaptation to climate change.
Canada’s genomics ecosystem
The genomics ecosystem in BC and rest of Canada can contribute to addressing many of the challenges in Canada’s northern and Arctic communities and provide opportunities for sustainable development across multiple sectors. There is much opportunity for genomics to positively impact and support arctic biodiversity. Utilizing and further strengthening Canada’s world class research and innovation in genomics can help with issues across the country, as well as further its leadership on northern issues internationally.
