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Following a successful year of building, prototyping and delivering services to select customers and partners, the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan has launched the Omics and Precision Agriculture Laboratory (OPAL).

The state-of-the-art facility combines the digital data analysis of microbial, plant and animal genes and traits with the latest precision agriculture technologies (agtech). The goal is to speed up innovation towards new products and services that would enhance profitability and sustainability across the agriculture and food sectors.听听

OPAL was founded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the National Research Council of Canada and听USask, with investment from Western Economic Diversification Canada. A first of its kind, it is the only facility in the country to provide analytical and computational services including genomics (the study of genetic materials), phenomics (the study of an organism鈥檚 traits) and bioinformatics (analyses of biological data). It combines these with the use of the latest imaging and听agtech听such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), the remote aerial imaging of plants and in-field environmental monitoring, to provide clients with a complete diagnostic profile of samples.听听

鈥淭hanks to the invaluable support of our partners, we have been able to set up a highly equipped facility that is a one-stop shop for the comprehensive analyses of microbe, plant and animal samples, and we听are听very pleased听to have these听advanced听services听available听here to听complement听Saskatchewan鈥檚听thriving听biotechnology ecosystem,鈥� GIFS Chief Executive Officer Steven Webb said.听听听

鈥淎s a technology platform,听OPAL听will听use听advanced tools and digital听agtech听to听address big issue challenges facing the agriculture and food sectors,听aligning with听GIFS鈥� mission to听work with partners to听discover, develop and deliver innovative solutions for the production of globally sustainable food.鈥澨�

Examples of those challenges听OPAL was created to help resolve are climate change and limited听water and nutrient听resources.听Using OPAL鈥檚 precision agtech,听farmers will be able to target plants with the precise amount of inputs 鈥� water, fertilizers and crop protection products 鈥� needed in their听fields.听This precision in agriculture means a more efficient use of resources, leading to accelerated breeding听(crops, animals),听reduced听impact on the environment,听increased quality听crop听yield, less waste听and听enhanced听efficiency for breeders, agronomists, producers and other听clients.听

The facility will also serve as a vehicle to deploy cutting-edge technology developed through the Plant Phenotyping and Imaging Research Centre, a digital agricultural research听centre听funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund and managed by听GIFS听on behalf of the university. 鈥�鈥�听

The听versatility of听OPAL鈥檚 laboratory equipment听means it can analyze virtually all genetic material听on large scales. This was the case during the one-year pilot when GIFS loaned its equipment to support the Saskatchewan Health Authority鈥檚 diagnostic testing听for COVID-19.听

鈥淎gtech has the infrastructure and capacity to support the health sector through its adaptable equipment that can be used for very large-scale and automated applications including genetic testing and sequencing, virus detection, protein analysis, and gene expression,鈥� said Webb.听听

鈥淲e were pleased to be able to support the health authority鈥檚 efforts by making our equipment available for the important testing needed at the time.鈥澨�

听Visit the OPAL website to learn more about its services:

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