2023 Genome Cross Cutting Programs in Support of the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative: Knowledge Mobilization and Implementation Coordination (KMIC) Hub and Data Coordination and Collaboration (Data) Hub

Eligibility

Summary

Details regarding deadlines and submission process are still being developed by Genome Canada, this posting will be updated as more information becomes available. See Submission Process below.

Climate change poses a significant risk to our agricultural systems, impacting the availability of food and other vital resources, from fuels to the raw materials used to develop everyday products. In response to this major challenge, Genome Canada’s latest large-scale genomics initiative will support climate change mitigation and adaptation through strategic investments in climate-smart agriculture and food systems. The Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems initiative is investing $24M in cutting-edge genomic research and innovation to reduce the carbon footprint of Canada’s food production systems—building their resiliency, environmental sustainability and economic viability.

This initiative began with a call to create i Interdisciplinary Challenge Teams (ICT); Letters of Intent were submitted in September 2022.

Funded ICT projects will be supported, coordinated and connected through two cross-cutting programs designed to ensure that the portfolio of ICT projects translate into solutions for Canadians. Genome Canada has now launched its call for participation in these two hubs:

   1. The Knowledge Mobilization and Implementation Coordination (KMIC) Hub

The objective of this funding opportunity is to support a single pan-Canadian team that will develop and implement a portfolio-level knowledge mobilization and implementation plan for Genome Canada's Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative. The team will coordinate knowledge mobilization and implementation activities to ensure that research and investments produce the intended impacts and outcomes. Consistent with the overall Initiative objective, this will include undertaking key GE3LS research at the portfolio level and advancing genomic technologies and policies that have the potential to measurably mitigate climate change by reducing carbon emissions and increasing carbon sequestration.

Total Funding Available: $2,100,000. This includes up to $700,000 for the first phase and up to $1.4 million for the second and third phases.

   2. The Data Coordination and Collaboration (Data) Hub

This funding opportunity aims to support a single pan-Canadian team that will develop and implement a data plan for Genome Canada's Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems Initiative. First, the team will internally coordinate data-related activities across the interdisciplinary research teams to add value and consistency to the genomic data assets that are being generated. Second, the team will help the projects leverage these data assets to externally advance genomic technologies and policies that have the potential to measurably mitigate climate change, such as by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and/or increasing carbon sequestration.

The broader vision is to co-develop the foundation of a collaborative Canadian climate genomic data hub.

Total Funding Available: $4,000,000. This includes up to $1.5 million for the first phase and up to $2.5 million for the second and third phases.

This portfolio approach allows the benefits from one solution to be applied to other food production systems or supply chains such that the impacts can cascade throughout the broader food system. These Hubs will provide administrative, technical and coordination leadership to the project portfolio with a focus on:

• Intentionally connecting projects across the ICT portfolio
• Supporting the coordination and alignment of portfolio activities across projects
• Engaging stakeholders and end users at the portfolio level
• Adding value to project outputs
• Addressing gaps to create portfolio coherence in achieving impacts

It will be critically important for the KMIC and Data Hubs to work together to coordinate their activities across the portfolio, informing each other’s data and knowledge mobilization portfolio-level strategies. Both Hubs will require formal mechanisms and structures to ensure coordination and co-creation of work across the portfolio and with each other. Governance structures will support this. Genome Canada and the relevant Genome Centres will have ongoing, direct relationships with the Hubs to drive strategic objectives in knowledge mobilization and data coordination.

Hubs must have a dedicated project manager with sufficient administrative support to coordinate Hub-specific activities. In addition, each Hub will contribute the budgetary equivalent of 0.5 of a full-time employee to pay for a portfolio-level project manager responsible for coordinating shared activities.

Please consult the Genome Alberta Funding Opportunities webpage for complete program information for both cross-cutting programs, including the phased approach, required elements and the submission process.

Submission Process

Details re: registration and application processes will be updated here when available; with questions contact Genome Alberta at gbalsevich@genomealberta.ca and Research Services at ipd@ucalgary.ca. 

Genome Canada intends to fund one national Knowledge Mobilization and Implementation Coordination Hub, and one national Data Coordination and Collaboration Hub. 

The five Genome regional centres are discussing how to best support researchers interested in participating in these hubs, and detailed instructions on how to participate remain under development.

Individuals interested in participating in either hub should contact Georgia Balsevich at Genome Alberta at gbalsevich@genomealberta.ca and Research Services at ipd@ucalgary.ca as soon as possible, and no later than December 14, 2022.

Genome Canada held a virtual information session and workshop on November 23, 2022. For a copy of the presentation and links to the webinar recording, please contact ipd@ucalgary.ca. 

Registrations will not require creation of an RMS record, but this will be required for full application.

More information regarding the Registration forms, process and timelines will be provided to registrants. Registration forms are expected to be made available November 9, and the final Full Application form will be made available by December 15.

Resources

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available internally through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Overhead: N/A

Pre-application deadlines

RSO internal deadline

Pre-application program deadline

Application deadlines

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.